Welfare Effects of Regressive Taxation and Subsidies in China

Xiaobing Wang and Jenifer Piesse

Global Development Institute Working Paper Series from GDI, The University of Manchester

Abstract: Using three comparable national representative household surveys for China in 1988, 1995 and 2002, this paper provides micro level evidence of a policy of absolute regressive taxation and an inverted welfare system. It reviews the economic effects of taxes and subsides and shows that a dual and regressive taxation system increases the urban rural income gap and enhances overall inequality. The empirical evidence indicates that the relatively poorer rural population pay net tax while those in the richer urban areas receive net subsidies. This biased system of taxes and welfare payments is one of the major causes of the persisting urban-rural income gap and is largely responsible for overall income inequality in China.

Date: 2009
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-acc, nep-cna, nep-dev, nep-law, nep-pbe and nep-tra
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bwp:bwppap:10809

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