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Male–female wage discrimination in Chinese industry Investigation using firm‐level data1

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  • Liqin Zhang
  • Xiao‐Yuan Dong

Abstract

We use firm‐level data to analyze male–female wage discrimination in China's industry. We find that there is a significant negative association between wages and the share of female workers in a firm's labour force. However, we also find that the marginal productivity of female workers is significantly lower than that of male workers. Comparing wage gaps and productivity gaps between men and women, we notice an intriguing contrast between state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) and private firms. The wage gap is smaller than the productivity gap in SOEs, while the converse is true for private firms. These results suggest that women in the state sector receive wage premiums, whereas women in the private sector face wage discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Liqin Zhang & Xiao‐Yuan Dong, 2008. "Male–female wage discrimination in Chinese industry Investigation using firm‐level data1," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 16(1), pages 85-112, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:etrans:v:16:y:2008:i:1:p:85-112
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0351.2007.00317.x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yueping Song & Xiao-Yuan Dong, 2013. "Gender and Occupational Mobility in Urban China during the Economic Transition," Research in Labor Economics, in: Labor Market Issues in China, pages 93-122, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    3. Huang, Wei & Yang, Kailin & Ma, Jiming & Xu, Yaowu & Guo, Xinlei & Wang, Jue, 2018. "A new setting criterion of tailrace surge chambers for pumped-storage power plants," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(PA), pages 194-201.
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    6. Appleton, Simon & Song, Lina & Xia, Qingjie, 2014. "Understanding Urban Wage Inequality in China 1988–2008: Evidence from Quantile Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1-13.
    7. Tsou, Meng-Wen & Yang, Chih-Hai, 2019. "Does gender structure affect firm productivity? Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 19-36.
    8. Wenxi Yan & Eduardo Schiehll & Maureen I. Muller-Kahle, 2019. "Human and relational capital behind the structural power of CEOs in Chinese listed firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 715-743, September.
    9. Chi, Wei & Li, Bo, 2008. "Glass ceiling or sticky floor? Examining the gender earnings differential across the earnings distribution in urban China, 1987-2004," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 243-263, June.
    10. Zhang, Qian Forrest & Pan, Zi, 2012. "Women’s Entry into Self-employment in Urban China: The Role of Family in Creating Gendered Mobility Patterns," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1201-1212.
    11. Dong, Xiao-yuan & Zhang, Liqin, 2009. "Economic transition and gender differentials in wages and productivity: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 144-156, January.
    12. Farha Fatema & Zhaohua Li & Mohammad Monirul Islam, 2017. "Trade Liberalization and Gender Inequality in Emerging Economies - from the Perspective of Sustainable Development Goals," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 7(11), pages 1075-1092, November.
    13. Nan Zhou, 2018. "Hybrid State-Owned Enterprises and Internationalization: Evidence from Emerging Market Multinationals," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 605-631, August.
    14. Min Qin & James Brown & Sabu S. Padmadas & Li Bohua & Qi Jianan & Jane Falkingham, 2016. "Gender Inequalities in Employment and Wage-earning among Economic Migrants in Chinese Cities," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 34(6), pages 175-202.

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