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The Quality of Life in Rural Asia (Studies of Rural Asia)

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A study of rural Asia was undertaken by the Asian Development Bank and this book, along with four other volumes in the series, presents an analysis and assessment of the achievements, problems and prospects in rural Asia. The authors of this book acknowledge an economic transformation that has taken place in much of rural Asia over the past two decades and make an account of these dramatic changes that are taking place. Large parts of the region within rural Asia have made remarkable progress with substantial gains in food security, per capita income, quality of life, and poverty reduction. Yet, of the two billion plus people that live in rural Asia, this territory remains home to 700 million people living in poverty, many of whom have no access to safe water and sanitation. Therefore, this study and the accounts from this book explore the new opportunities and challenges that face the rural society of Asia.

The rural transformation in Asia has also enlarged the concept of rural development to encompass changes in the quality of life. Although huge pockets of abject poverty persist in rural Asia, this volume focuses on the quality of life (QOL) and the following indicators:

* Nutrition

* Health

* Education

* Income

* Fertility

* Gender Equality

* Political Freedom

* Civil Freedom

* Environmental Quality

* Infrastructure

* Access to information

* Economic Freedom

As the authors realize the rural life around the world is quickly changing, an understanding of rural QOL therefore relies on a clear comprehension of the relation of each component listed above. By focusing on the QOL, the intent is to take a broad view of rural Asia's development and help change the perspective of Asia's leaders to help develop private and public policy changes that can improve the future of rural Asia. As most would suspect, income is the most powerful component of QOL that people enjoy and has become the dominant measure of human wellbeing. However, an undisputed two-way interaction is also apparent between education and income, with higher income being both the result and the cause of obtaining more education. There is also a strong interaction between education and health. If a child is not feeling well and is absent from school, they are likely to achieve less. Overall, because of the strong links between education and income, good health can indirectly improve QOL through its influence on education and therefore income. As we visit the rural school located in the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and see the QOL of the students, visualize the potential future of each student's ability to truly become whatever they want to be.