Introduction

Global governance will have to transcend the traditional growth strategy based on the neoliberal ideology, enhance governments’ abilities to implement social policies and deliver public services, develop effective poverty alleviation strategies, and effectively promote social welfare and freedom. Developed and developing countries alike face the challenges resulting from development and poverty reduction. Poverty reduction remains an extremely important policy issue for several reasons. The dimensions of poverty measurement could be multiple, including income, education, health, and others. Poverty reduction, in particular, rural poverty alleviation, has been a very important policy area in China since the 1980s, and particularly so in the Xi Jinping era. Economic integration on a global scale has a significant impact on economic growth, inequality, and poverty reduction. As globalization and international economic integration are increasing in importance, some new phenomena in poverty reduction and economic growth have been registered. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.