A Survey of Income Distribution among Rural Families in Ghoochan

The purpose of this study was to survey income distribution among the agricultural and non-agricultural rural families in Ghoochan town, Khorasan province. Data was collected by filling out questionnaires, and having interviews with 265 rural families, selected by stratified random sampling. And the obtained data was analysed through Gini ratios, comparison of the quintiles, Lourenz curve and income ratios. The results showed that the income distribution among the non-agricultural families was higher than that among agricultural families. The Gini ratio for agricultural families was 0.57 and for non-agricultural families was 0.45. The lowest Gini ratio was among the families employed for both agricultural and non-agricultural activities (GR=0.38). Therefore, it seems that income inequalities can be improved by making rural families in Ghoochan work in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.