Abstract:

In order to quantitatively evaluate the effect of ecological policy of Returning Grazing Land to Grassland on farmers' income in the farming-pastoral zone on the north of China, Yanchi Country is selected as the study area. We empirically analyzed the effects of ecological policy of "Returning Grazing Land to Grassland" on farmers' income by using the propensity score-matching method to deal with the endogenous problem of sample. The result showed that the "Returning Grazing Land to Grassland" can improve the farming income under the condition of ignoring social and economic elements, and the farmers gained the implementation of the policy of income by changing their mode of production. But the policy show little effects on planting and non-agricultural income. It was founded out that the increase of farmers' income was attributed to the comprehensive effects of the social and economic development, the price change of foods, the transformation of minds and the inflation, but not the implementation of the ecological policy. This research can provide theoretical basis for the implementation and improvement of Returning Grazing Land to Grassland policy in Yanchi and other similar areas.

Key words: Propensity Score Matching method, Returning Grazing Land to Grassland, policy evaluation, household income