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Understanding the Kuznets Process: An Empirical Investigation of Income Inequality in China 1978-2011

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  • Wenli Cheng
  • Yongzheng Wu
  • CEMA
  • College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University

Abstract

This paper investigates income inequality in the post-reform Chinese economy of 1978 to 2011. We identify a Kuznets inverted-U relationship between economic development and overall income inequality and provide evidence to suggest that this relationship was driven by the process of urbanization. We demonstrate that, after controlling for urbanization, low productivity in agriculture relative to that of the economy as a whole (dualism) was a significant contributing factor to income inequality. Inflation and the expansion of higher education are also found to have had an effect of widening inequality, but the effect of education does not appear to be robust.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenli Cheng & Yongzheng Wu & CEMA & College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Hunan Normal University, 2014. "Understanding the Kuznets Process: An Empirical Investigation of Income Inequality in China 1978-2011," Monash Economics Working Papers 12-14, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2014-12
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    2. Ibrahim Mohamed Ali Ali, 2023. "Income inequality, economic growth, and structural changes in Egypt: new insights from quantile cointegration approach," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 379-407, February.
    3. José Alves & José Carlos Coelho & Alexandre Roxo, 2022. "How economic growth impinges on income inequalities," Working Papers REM 2022/0254, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    4. Martin Ravallion & Shaohua Chen, 2022. "Is that really a Kuznets curve? Turning points for income inequality in China," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(4), pages 749-776, December.
    5. Dorina Lazar & Cristian Marius Litan, 2024. "Inequality, Growth, and Structural Transformation: New Evidence from a Post-communist Economy," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 66(2), pages 236-260, June.
    6. Diego Martínez-Navarro & Ignacio Amate-Fortes & Almudena Guarnido-Rueda, 2020. "Inequality and development: is the Kuznets curve in effect today?," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(3), pages 703-735, October.
    7. Gordon Anderson & Tongtong Hao & Maria Grazia Pittau, 2019. "More unequal yet more alike, the changing patterns of family formation, generational mobility and household income inequality in China: a counter-factual analysis," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 17(3), pages 359-378, September.
    8. MA Xinxin & KOMATSU Sho, 2023. "Impact of E-commerce Development on Income Inequality: Evidence from rural China based on cross-county panel data," Discussion papers 23044, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Kuznets curve; income inequality in China; Theil index; urbanisation; dualism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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