ABSTRACT
In contrast to its role in urban living, cash tends to be a relatively scarce rural commodity throughout much of the developing world. This is illustrated in Box 6.2 which shows that circumstances in rural
3 41 5 6 7 8 91 10 1 2 31 4 5 6 7111 8111 9 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 1 2 3 4 51 6 7 8 9 40
starkly with the rapid development taking place in Chinese cities. The example of China illustrates how the state can place a double burden on the rural economy. In general terms, the urban-based members of a household may be able to provide relatively small amounts of cash which can still be beneficial to the rural-based household. On the other hand, where necessary, ruralbased members of a household can provide the urban-based members with rural resources such as food, woodfuel and so on, which may be in abundance in the countryside and can keep down the costs of urban living.
