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Top incomes in China: Data collection and the impact on income inequality

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  • Li, Qinghai
  • Li, Shi
  • Wan, Haiyuan

Abstract

Using data on top incomes collected from different sources, we combine the samples of top incomes with a household survey (HS) to investigate changes in income distribution with and without top incomes. The Gini coefficient of income inequality using HS data is 0.464 for 2016 and jumps to 0.646 after including the samples of top incomes, which demonstrates the importance of top incomes in estimating income inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Qinghai & Li, Shi & Wan, Haiyuan, 2020. "Top incomes in China: Data collection and the impact on income inequality," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:62:y:2020:i:c:s1043951x20300924
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2020.101495
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Zheng-Xin & Jv, Yue-Qi, 2023. "Revisiting income inequality among households: New evidence from the Chinese Household Income Project," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    2. Wan, Haiyuan & Gustafsson, Björn Anders & Wang, Yingfei, 2024. "Convergence of Inequality Dimensions in China: Income, Consumption, and Wealth from 1988 to 2018," IZA Discussion Papers 16719, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Juzhong Zhuang, 2023. "Income and Wealth Inequality in Asia and the Pacific: Trends, Causes, and Policy Remedies," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 18(1), pages 15-41, January.
    4. Li, Chengyou & Yu, Yangcheng & Li, Qinghai, 2021. "Top-income data and income inequality correction in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 210-219.
    5. Haiyuan Wan & Yangcheng Yu, 2023. "Correction of China's income inequality for missing top incomes," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1769-1791, August.
    6. Zhang, Chen & Yu, Yangcheng & Li, Qinghai, 2023. "Top incomes and income polarisation in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    7. Gradín, Carlos & Wu, Binbin, 2020. "Income and consumption inequality in China: A comparative approach with India," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    8. Zheng, Yanqiao & Zhang, Xiaoqi & Zhu, Yu, 2021. "Overeducation, major mismatch, and return to higher education tiers: Evidence from novel data source of a major online recruitment platform in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    9. Gu, Xiang & Hua, Sheng & McKenzie, Tom & Zheng, Yanqiao, 2022. "Like father, like son? Parental input, access to higher education, and social mobility in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    10. Yanqiao Zheng & Xiaoqi Zhang & Qiwen Dai & Xing Zhang, 2020. "To Float or Not to Float? Internal Migration of Skilled Laborers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-15, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Top incomes; Pareto distribution; Income inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J58 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Public Policy

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