The great Chinese inequality turnaround

Ravi Kanbur, Yue Wang and Xiaobo Zhang

Journal of Comparative Economics, 2021, vol. 49, issue 2, 467-482

Abstract: This paper argues that after a quarter century of sharp and sustained increase, Chinese inequality is now plateauing and, according to some measures, even declining. A number of papers have been harbingers of this conclusion, but this paper consolidates the literature indicating a turnaround, and provides empirical foundations for it. The argument is made using a range of data sources and a range of measures and perspectives on inequality. The evolution of inequality is further examined through decomposition by income source and population subgroup. Some preliminary explanations are provided for these trends in terms of shifts in policy and the structural transformation of the Chinese economy. We relate the turnaround to two classic phenomena in the development economics literature—the Lewis turning point and the Kuznets turning point. The plateauing is not yet a full blown decline, and there are short term variations. But the narrative on Chinese inequality now needs to accommodate the possibility of a turnaround in inequality, and to focus on the reasons for this turnaround.

Keywords: Chinese inequality turnaround; Inequality data; Inequality trends; Inequality and structural transformation; Harmonious development and government policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 D63 O15 O53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Great Chinese Inequality Turnaround (2017)
Working Paper: The great Chinese inequality turnaround (2017)
Working Paper: The great Chinese inequality turnaround (2017)
Working Paper: The Great Chinese Inequality Turnaround (2017)
Working Paper: The great Chinese inequality turnaround (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:49:y:2021:i:2:p:467-482

DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2020.10.001

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