The Great Chinese Inequality Turnaround

Ravi Kanbur, Yue Wang () and Xiaobo Zhang
Additional contact information
Yue Wang: Cornell University

No 10635, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper argues that after a quarter century of sharp and sustained increase, Chinese inequality is now plateauing and even turning down. 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 subgroups. Preliminary explanations are provided for these trends in terms of shifts in policy and structural transformation of the Chinese economy. The narrative on Chinese inequality now needs to focus on the reasons for this great turnaround.

Keywords: inequality and structural transformation; inequality trends; inequality data; Chinese inequality turnaround; harmonious development and government policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 D63 O15 O53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2017-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-tra
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

Published - published in: Journal of Comparative Economics, 2021, 49 (2), 467 - 482

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https://docs.iza.org/dp10635.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The great Chinese inequality turnaround (2021)
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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