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The Effect of Economic Reform and Industrial Policy in a Panel of Chinese Cities

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  • Simon Alder
  • Lin Shao
  • Fabrizio Zilibotti

Abstract

We use the establishment of Special Economic Zones in China to estimate the effect of economic reforms on GDP. A panel of 270 Chinese cities from 1988 to 2010 allows us to exploit the variation in the establishment of zones across time and space. The results from our baseline difference-in-difference specification suggest that the establishment of a major zone led to an increase in the level of GDP by about 9%. This result is similar in a sub-sample of inland provinces, where the selection of cities in which zones were established was more transparent. We also use a set of alternative identification strategies and find mostly similar effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Alder & Lin Shao & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2012. "The Effect of Economic Reform and Industrial Policy in a Panel of Chinese Cities," DEGIT Conference Papers c017_061, DEGIT, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade.
    • Handle: RePEc:deg:conpap:c017_061
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; Economic Reform; Industrial Policy; Development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy
    • P27 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Performance and Prospects

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