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Income inequality of destination countries and trade patterns: Evidence from Chinese firm-level data

Author

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  • Miao, Zhuang
  • Li, Yifan
  • Duan, Sisong

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the relation between the export patterns and the income inequality of the destination countries using the Chinese firm-level data. Our empirical analysis finds two main results: (i) export price decreases in the income inequality of the destination countries; while (ii) the exporting firm number and export value will increase in the inequality level. With a conventionally theoretical framework, we discuss the potential influencing mechanism. A higher income inequality leads to higher share of poor consumers in a country, which will lower the quality threshold for Chinese exporters. In this case, the firms with less competitive and producing low quality products are able to enter this market. As a result, we observe that in response to a higher income inequality, more firms enter the market while the exporting price decreases in this market.

Suggested Citation

  • Miao, Zhuang & Li, Yifan & Duan, Sisong, 2020. "Income inequality of destination countries and trade patterns: Evidence from Chinese firm-level data," MPRA Paper 99441, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:99441
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income Inequality; Trade Patterns; Chinese Firm-level Data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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