Understanding Urban Wage Inequality in China 1988-2008: Evidence from Quantile Analysis

Simon Appleton; Lina Song; Qingjie Xia

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.04.005

Understanding Urban Wage Inequality in China 1988-2008: Evidence from Quantile Analysis

Simon Appleton
, Lina Song
, Qingjie Xia

Research output: Journal Publication › Article › peer-review

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper examines change in wage gaps in urban China from 1988 to 2008 by estimating quantile regressions on CHIPS data. It applies the Machado and Mata (2005) decomposition, finding sharp increases in inequality largely due to changes in the wage structure. During 2002-08, changes in the returns to education and experience have been equalizing. However, changes in other categories of wage differential-by sex, occupation, ownership, industrial sector, and province-widened inequality. The gender gap continued to rise, as did the gap between white collar and blue collar workers, and between manufacturing and other sectors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Number of pages	13
Journal	World Development
Volume	62
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.04.005
Publication status	Published - Oct 2014
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 1 No Poverty
SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Free Keywords

China
Inequality
Labor
Quantile regression
Wages

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development
Development
Sociology and Political Science
Economics and Econometrics

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10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.04.005

Cite this

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title = "Understanding Urban Wage Inequality in China 1988-2008: Evidence from Quantile Analysis",

abstract = "This paper examines change in wage gaps in urban China from 1988 to 2008 by estimating quantile regressions on CHIPS data. It applies the Machado and Mata (2005) decomposition, finding sharp increases in inequality largely due to changes in the wage structure. During 2002-08, changes in the returns to education and experience have been equalizing. However, changes in other categories of wage differential-by sex, occupation, ownership, industrial sector, and province-widened inequality. The gender gap continued to rise, as did the gap between white collar and blue collar workers, and between manufacturing and other sectors.",

keywords = "China, Inequality, Labor, Quantile regression, Wages",

author = "Simon Appleton and Lina Song and Qingjie Xia",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC, UK) for Grant support (Reference Number: ES/1035079/1 ); and Ford Foundation for the support of data collection and financial assistance. ",

year = "2014",

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AU - Appleton, Simon

AU - Song, Lina

AU - Xia, Qingjie

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC, UK) for Grant support (Reference Number: ES/1035079/1 ); and Ford Foundation for the support of data collection and financial assistance.

PY - 2014/10

Y1 - 2014/10

N2 - This paper examines change in wage gaps in urban China from 1988 to 2008 by estimating quantile regressions on CHIPS data. It applies the Machado and Mata (2005) decomposition, finding sharp increases in inequality largely due to changes in the wage structure. During 2002-08, changes in the returns to education and experience have been equalizing. However, changes in other categories of wage differential-by sex, occupation, ownership, industrial sector, and province-widened inequality. The gender gap continued to rise, as did the gap between white collar and blue collar workers, and between manufacturing and other sectors.

AB - This paper examines change in wage gaps in urban China from 1988 to 2008 by estimating quantile regressions on CHIPS data. It applies the Machado and Mata (2005) decomposition, finding sharp increases in inequality largely due to changes in the wage structure. During 2002-08, changes in the returns to education and experience have been equalizing. However, changes in other categories of wage differential-by sex, occupation, ownership, industrial sector, and province-widened inequality. The gender gap continued to rise, as did the gap between white collar and blue collar workers, and between manufacturing and other sectors.

KW - China

KW - Inequality

KW - Labor

KW - Quantile regression

KW - Wages

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84901200297

U2 - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.04.005

DO - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.04.005

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84901200297

SN - 0305-750X

VL - 62

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - World Development

JF - World Development

ER -

Understanding Urban Wage Inequality in China 1988-2008: Evidence from Quantile Analysis

Abstract

UN SDGs

Free Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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