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Trade, Foreign Direct Investment and Wage Inequality in China: A Heterogeneous Firms Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Theresa M. Greaney

    (Department of Economics University of Hawaii)

  • Yao Li

    (School of Management and Economics University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

We apply insights from the heterogeneous firms’ literature to an empirical investigation of wage inequality in China, focusing on the potential influences of FDI and trade. Using firm-level data, we examine intra-sectoral wage inequality in a major industrial region with firms identified according to five firm ownership types and three exporter status types. We find large ownership-type wage premiums separate from other observable influences on wages, including a firm’s exporter status. Our results indicate that ownership type matters more than exporter status as a determinant in explaining intra-sectoral wage inequality in China’s Yangtze River Delta. We also find evidence of asymmetric wage effects of firm type by exporter status and by other wage determinants.

Suggested Citation

  • Theresa M. Greaney & Yao Li, 2013. "Trade, Foreign Direct Investment and Wage Inequality in China: A Heterogeneous Firms Approach," Working Papers 201306, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hai:wpaper:201306
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Greaney, Theresa M. & Li, Yao & Tu, Dongmei, 2017. "Pollution control and foreign firms’ exit behavior in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 148-159.
    2. Theresa M. Greaney & Yao Li, 2017. "Examining Determinants of Foreign Wage Premiums in China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(10), pages 2056-2077, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exporter; pure exporter; foreign direct investment; wage premium; manufacturing; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • F66 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Labor
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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