Quantile Regression Analysis on Convergence of China’s Regional Economic Growth

Using quantile regression method, this paper made an empirical analysis on convergence of China’s regional economic growth since the reform and opening-up. It firstly introduced principle of quantile regression method and related theories of convergence of economic growth. Through discussing interprovincial variation coefficient of GDP per capita, it carried out convergence analysis on economic growth and divided 3 decades since the reform and opening-up into 3 stages. Then, it made a comparative analysis of absolute β convergence on 3 stages using least-squares estimation and quantile regression method, and also stressed the advantage of quantile regression method. On this basis, it made an in-depth study on conditional β convergence at 3 stages. Empirical results indicate that there is absolute and conditional convergence at the first stage, no convergence at the second stage, and weak convergence at the third stage. Finally, it discussed weak points in this study and came up with recommendations for future studies.