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Abstract
This paper examines the impact of irrigation on rural incomes, poverty and the income
distribution in rural China. The relationship between irrigation and income is examined
using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. A simulation approach is used to
explore the impact of irrigation on poverty incidence. To uncover the effect of irrigation
on the income distribution, inequality is decomposed by source of income, by group
according to access to irrigation and by estimated income flows as a result of specific
household characteristics. The results show that irrigation increases income and reduces
poverty and inequality.