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Regional distribution and dynamics of human capital in China 1985–2014

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  • Fraumeni, Barbara M.
  • He, Junzi
  • Li, Haizheng
  • Liu, Qinyi

Abstract

This study investigates the regional distribution and dynamics of human capital in China. We develop a new comprehensive human capital measure based on the Jorgenson-Fraumeni (J-F) lifetime income framework, in addition to using the traditional education-based human capital measures. We find that the new J-F human capital measure reflects more closely the regional economic disparity than the education-based measures. We also conduct a Divisia decomposition analysis to investigate the contributions of different factors to the quantity and quality growth of human capital and to regional disparity. Our results show that the regional human capital gaps in China are enlarging in general. Education and urbanization contribute most to human capital growth, while population aging shows a strong negative effect. Our estimates create a new provincial level human capital panel dataset from 1985 to 2014, which is useful for empirical work and policy analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Fraumeni, Barbara M. & He, Junzi & Li, Haizheng & Liu, Qinyi, 2019. "Regional distribution and dynamics of human capital in China 1985–2014," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 853-866.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:47:y:2019:i:4:p:853-866
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2019.06.003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human capital; Regional disparity; China; Jorgenson-Fraumeni lifetime income approach; Divisia index;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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