The latter are falling further behind their urban counterparts (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 2008b). To illustrate this point in detail, the present section will highlight the importance of regional variations by contrasting two countries, China and India, both large countries in terms of both geographical and population size and both regarded as quite successful in having reduced poverty at the aggregate level. As a result, however, of divergent regional patterns of economic growth and social provisions, one finds sharp differences in levels of living standards across provinces or states, as well as between rural and urban areas (Ravallion and Jalan, 1999). This gap is related to structural changes in output and employment: the coastal regions have provided more opportunities for non-agricultural employment and income.