Human Capital of Family and Social Mobility in Rural Areas-Evidence from China

This research focuses on the impact of family＇s human capital on social mobility in China＇s rural community.Empirical research is conducted based on data from surveying a typical rural community in the past 20 yr.The study indicates that social mobility in rural area is active in the past 20 yr,and the human capital of family,represented by primary labor＇s education level,has played an essential role in mobility of low social class.Meanwhile,socio-economic development and the change of supply and demand in labor market dims the signaling role of degree education,but the impact of occupational training is increasingly remarkable.Therefore,the change from sole degree education to multi-leveled education including occupational education and training is a main way for China＇s rural families in low class to realize social mobility.

Mapping Rural Mobility in the Niakhar Area (Fatick Region, Senegal)

Despite the development of information and communication technologies, mobility still remains an important factor in the development of the social capital, by promoting social interactions. However, rural African populations face more difficulties getting around than city dwellers. In addition, studies on mobility in Africa are relatively weak. In rural African areas, this ignorance of mobility is even more important. It is necessary to identify the characteristics and the spatial structure of mobility flows before starting any reflection on solutions, particularly in terms of spatial allocation of transport resources. Our main objective is to map the current movement flows in the Niakhar area. We chose to use the cartographic approach to analyze mobility flows. The data come from a survey carried out in 2018, as part of the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD) Niakhar Atlas project. For the data analysis, we used 4 methods: dominant flux method, net flux calculation method, directional mean statistics and areal interpolation. The results revealed differences in mobility behavior depending on the season and in space, and the existence of three dominant centers: Ngayokhème, Diohine and Toucar. They also made it possible to highlight the main directions of the flows and the scalar fields of mobility.

Development and Use of Rural Finance: A Case Study of Village A in Sichuan Province

Mobile finance plays a great role in solving problems of rural finance,such as insufficient physical outlets and excessive high transaction cost. Based on the field survey data of Village A in Sichuan Province,analysis and study were carried out on the development and use of rural mobile finance. The results indicated that the degree of use of rural mobile finance is not high. Mobile finance is mainly used in the young and the middle aged people with high educational level,engaged in non-agricultural industry,and with lower middle income. The business is single and mainly concentrated in shopping and transfer of account.

Ensuring Rural Mobility through Demand Responsive Transport, Experiences from Austria

Embedded in an INTERREG IVc project called Flexible Transport Services （FTS） and Information and Communication Technology （ICT） platform for Eco-Mobility in urban and rural European areas （acronym： FLIPPER）, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, analysed impacts of Flexible Transport Services focusing on Demand Responsive Public Transport （DRT）. This includes the analysis of site characteristics, the existing mobility demand, accessibility, area needs, current environmental impact, operational, financial and organisational constraints; designing of the service and definition of the supporting organisational measures required. Examples of realised services in Alpine areas in Austria confirm the effects on people＇s daily mobility and all its consequences towards society and environment. Main effects are the decrease of public funding needs and ensuring a basic transport supply even in rural areas. Additionally, there is a strong component of social inclusion in this service, increasing the quality of life capable to contribute to the deceleration of the out migration. As secondary effects, economic effects and environmental effects can be observed. The potential of these services are not fully utilised today and can be achieved through further extensions of service area as well as technical developments.