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Public Policy and Long-Term Trends in Inequality in Rural China, 1988-2013

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Abstract

This study examines the long-term changes in the distribution of rural income in China from the late 1980s until the mid-2010s. The major findings are summarized as follows. First, contrasting trends are found in the contributions of agricultural income and wage earnings, which reflect the structural changes in rural income caused by the dual processes of economic development and systemic transition during the post-Mao era. Second, inequality in wealth is found to have become increasingly important for understanding rural inequality. Third, small but substantial improvements are found in the redistributive and poverty impacts of public transfers before and after implementation of the pro-rural public policies during the first decade of this century, representing a historical reversal in the long-term urban-biased public policy in contemporary China.

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  • Hisatoshi Hoken & Hiroshi Sato, 2017. "Public Policy and Long-Term Trends in Inequality in Rural China, 1988-2013," University of Western Ontario, Centre for Human Capital and Productivity (CHCP) Working Papers 201716, University of Western Ontario, Centre for Human Capital and Productivity (CHCP).
    • Handle: RePEc:uwo:hcuwoc:201716
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    Cited by:

    1. Yitian Ren, 2023. "Rural China Staggering towards the Digital Era: Evolution and Restructuring," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Shi Li & Terry Sicular & Finn Tarp, 2018. "Inequality in China: Development, transition, and policy," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-174, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Shi Li & Terry Sicular & Finn Tarp, 2018. "Inequality in China: Development, transition, and policy," WIDER Working Paper Series 174, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Peihua Deng & Ronnie Schöb, 2022. "Group-Specific Redistribution, Inequality, and Subjective Well-Being in China," CESifo Working Paper Series 9847, CESifo.

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