IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/117923.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The FDI liberalization and skill structure of labor market in China: The predicament of migrants

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Yifan
  • Miao, Zhuang
  • Wang, Junbo
  • Zhang, Yan

Abstract

Throughout the era of China’s accession to World Trade Organization (WTO), the labor market and education dynamics have been significantly impacted by the surge in foreign direct investment (FDI). This study scrutinizes how these factors interplay, with emphasis on migrants’ educational attainment, skill premium, and employment status. Our empirical evidence suggests that while FDI bolsters the relative demand for high-skill labors, it concurrently enhances education premiums and the educational attainment in general. Nevertheless, an intriguing anomaly emerges with the downward trajectory of migrants' educational levels. This counterintuitive phenomenon is primarily driven by the double-edged predicament of employment discrimination against high-skill migrants and the sluggish growth in demand for their employment. Empirical analysis further reveals that the FDI liberalization period witnessed an insignificant rise in migrants’ educational premiums, thereby predisposing them to low-wage or high-hazard positions. Our quantitative simulation shows that migration workers will improve their educational levels by 16% by migrating to the higher FDI-exposed region, and improve 4% by removal of the employment discrimination toward the migrants. Our study contributes to the understanding labor market structural shifts and migrant employment conditions in China during its WTO accession period. Additionally, it provides insights for policy-making geared towards the equitable distribution of FDI benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Yifan & Miao, Zhuang & Wang, Junbo & Zhang, Yan, 2023. "The FDI liberalization and skill structure of labor market in China: The predicament of migrants," MPRA Paper 117923, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:117923
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/117923/1/FDI%20and%20EDU%20Jul%2011%20FINAL%20%20Version%20MIAO%20revision.pdf
    File Function: original version
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paolo Figini & Holger Go¨rg, 2011. "Does Foreign Direct Investment Affect Wage Inequality? An Empirical Investigation," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(9), pages 1455-1475, September.
    2. Amiti, Mary & Smarzynska Javorcik, Beata, 2008. "Trade costs and location of foreign firms in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(1-2), pages 129-149, February.
    3. Brian J. Aitken & Ann E. Harrison, 2022. "Do Domestic Firms Benefit from Direct Foreign Investment? Evidence from Venezuela," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Globalization, Firms, and Workers, chapter 6, pages 139-152, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Green, Colin & Kler, Parvinder & Leeves, Gareth, 2007. "Immigrant overeducation: Evidence from recent arrivals to Australia," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 420-432, August.
    5. David H. Autor & David Dorn & Gordon H. Hanson, 2013. "The China Syndrome: Local Labor Market Effects of Import Competition in the United States," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(6), pages 2121-2168, October.
    6. Lu, Yi & Tao, Zhigang & Zhu, Lianming, 2017. "Identifying FDI spillovers," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 75-90.
    7. Lindley, Joanne, 2009. "The over-education of UK immigrants and minority ethnic groups: Evidence from the Labour Force Survey," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 80-89, February.
    8. McLaren, John & Yoo, Myunghwan, 2017. "FDI and inequality in Vietnam: An approach with census data," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 134-147.
    9. Lin, Faqin & Long, Cheryl X., 2020. "The impact of globalization on youth education: Empirical evidence from China's WTO accession," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 820-839.
    10. Jozef Konings, 2001. "The effects of foreign direct investment on domestic firms," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 9(3), pages 619-633, November.
    11. Zhao, Yaohui, 2001. "Foreign direct investment and relative wages: The case of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 40-57.
    12. Loren Brandt & Johannes Van Biesebroeck & Luhang Wang & Yifan Zhang, 2017. "WTO Accession and Performance of Chinese Manufacturing Firms," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(9), pages 2784-2820, September.
    13. Bai, Chong-En & Du, Yingjuan & Tao, Zhigang & Tong, Sarah Y., 2004. "Local protectionism and regional specialization: evidence from China's industries," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 397-417, July.
    14. Alwyn Young, 2000. "The Razor's Edge: Distortions and Incremental Reform in the People's Republic of China," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(4), pages 1091-1135.
    15. Li, Bingjing, 2018. "Export expansion, skill acquisition and industry specialization: evidence from china," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 346-361.
    16. Yao Yao & George S. Chen & Lin Zhang, 2022. "Gender segregation in the causal effect of foreign direct investment on educational attainment: the Chinese experience," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(51), pages 5889-5903, November.
    17. Chen, Bo & Yu, Miaojie & Yu, Zhihao, 2017. "Measured skill premia and input trade liberalization: Evidence from Chinese firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 31-42.
    18. Aleksynska, Mariya & Tritah, Ahmed, 2013. "Occupation–education mismatch of immigrant workers in Europe: Context and policies," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 229-244.
    19. Chantal Nielsen, 2011. "Immigrant over-education: evidence from Denmark," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 24(2), pages 499-520, April.
    20. Alwyn Young, 2000. "The Razor's Edge: Distortions and Incremental Reform in the People's Republic of China," NBER Working Papers 7828, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    21. Julia Beckhusen & Raymond J.G.M. Florax & Jacques Poot & Brigitte S. Waldorf, 2013. "Attracting Global Talent And Then What? Overeducated Immigrants In The United States," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(5), pages 834-854, December.
    22. Haddad, Mona & Harrison, Ann, 1993. "Are there positive spillovers from direct foreign investment? : Evidence from panel data for Morocco," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 51-74, October.
    23. Miao Wang & Hong Zhuang, 2021. "FDI and educational outcomes in developing countries," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 61(6), pages 3505-3539, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gong, Robin Kaiji, 2023. "The local technology spillovers of multinational firms," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    2. Yu, Zhen & Wu, Xiaoling & Li, Meng & Guo, Rufei, 2021. "Import competition and the gender gap in labor force participation: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    3. Schwientek, Caroline, 2016. "Are immigrants overeducated in Germany? Determinants and wage effects of educational mismatch," FAU Discussion Papers in Economics 07/2016, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Institute for Economics.
    4. Elissa Braunstein & Gerald Epstein, 2002. "Bargaining Power and Foreign Direct Investment in China: Can 1.3 Billion Consumers Tame the Multinationals?," SCEPA working paper series. 2002-13, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.
    5. V. Jacobs & F. Rycx & M. Volral, 2022. "Wage Effects of Educational Mismatch According to Workers’ Origin: The Role of Demographics and Firm Characteristics," De Economist, Springer, vol. 170(4), pages 459-501, November.
    6. Bai, Chong-En & Ma, Hong & Pan, Wenqing, 2012. "Spatial spillover and regional economic growth in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 982-990.
    7. Philippe Wanner & Marco Pecoraro & Massimiliano Tani, 2021. "Does Educational Mismatch Affect Emigration Behaviour?," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 37(4), pages 959-995, November.
    8. Daniel Berkowitz & Shuichiro Nishioka, "undated". "The Growth of Firms, Markets and Rents: Evidence from China," Working Papers 24-01, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    9. Luosha Du & Ann Harrison & Gary Jefferson, 2022. "FDI Spillovers and Industrial Policy: The Role of Tariffs and Tax Holidays," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Globalization, Firms, and Workers, chapter 9, pages 215-232, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    10. Ding, Chengri & Niu, Yi, 2019. "Market size, competition, and firm productivity for manufacturing in China," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 81-98.
    11. Lihua Dai & Qi Fan & Yanyun Li & Faqin Lin, 2021. "No time to look after the kids: The unintended consequences of export expansion on child health," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 527-548, July.
    12. Julan Du & Yi Lu & Zhigang Tao, 2008. "FDI location choice: agglomeration vs institutions," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(1), pages 92-107.
    13. Thanh Tam Nguyen-Huu, 2023. "FDI spillovers and productivity in Vietnamese manufacturing industries - New insights from the unconditional quantile regression," Post-Print hal-04244612, HAL.
    14. Fariha Kamal & Mary E. Lovely & Puman Ouyang, 2017. "Does deeper integration enhance spatial advantages? Market access and wage growth in China," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Mary E Lovely (ed.), International Economic Integration and Domestic Performance, chapter 14, pages 255-270, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    15. Crescenzi, Riccardo & Limodio, Nicola, 2021. "The impact of Chinese FDI in Africa: evidence from Ethiopia," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 108455, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    16. Eberhardt, Markus & Wang, Zheng & Yu, Zhihong, 2016. "From one to many central plans: Drug advertising inspections and intra-national protectionism in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 608-622.
    17. Grether, Jean-Marie & Hotz, Irina & Mathys, Nicole A., 2014. "Industry location in Chinese provinces: Does energy abundance matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 383-391.
    18. Yang, Chih-Hai, 2023. "Competition in the Chinese market: Foreign firms and markups," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    19. Kim, Minjung & Xin, Ding, 2021. "Export spillover from foreign direct investment in China during pre- and post-WTO accession," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    20. Sajid Anwar & Sizhong Sun, 2019. "Firm heterogeneity and FDI-related productivity spillovers: A theoretical investigation," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 1-10, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    FDI Liberalization; Educational Attainments; Educational Wage Premium; Migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F20 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - General
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:117923. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joachim Winter (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/vfmunde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.