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Determining Minimum Wages In China: Do Economic Factors Dominate?

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  • Christian Dreger
  • Reinhold Kosfeld
  • Yanqun Zhang

Abstract

We analyze the determinants of minimum wages in China at the regional level. We include a broad set of economic variables and consider the role of spatial spillovers, which reflect the geographical pattern of regions and can arise for several reasons, including competition between local policymakers. The analysis primarily reveals the existence of strong regional ties in the development of minimum wages. Once these spatial effects are considered, the role of economic variables in the determination of minimum wages declines, and their impact is lower than initially thought. Whereas consumption per capita and consumer prices remain significant, regular wages lose their importance when controlling for reverse causation. Although minimum wage regulation stresses the relevance of economic factors in the determination of appropriate levels, actual development is largely driven by regional dependencies. As minimum wage standards set by local officials do not fully reflect regional economic conditions, further reform should be on the agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Dreger & Reinhold Kosfeld & Yanqun Zhang, 2019. "Determining Minimum Wages In China: Do Economic Factors Dominate?," Review of Urban & Regional Development Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1-2), pages 44-59, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:revurb:v:31:y:2019:i:1-2:p:44-59
    DOI: 10.1111/rurd.12094
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Dan & Robone, Silvana & Turati, Gilberto, 2024. "The effect of minimum wages on self-reported physical and mental health in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    2. Julian Donaubauer & Christian Dreger, 2018. "The End of Cheap Labor: Are Foreign Investors Leaving China?," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 17(2), pages 94-107, Summer.
    3. Christian Dreger & Yanqun Zhang, 2017. "The Hukou Impact on the Chinese Wage Structure," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1660, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    4. Achim Schmillen & Michael Stops & Dewen Wang, 2023. "The Determinants of China's Minimum Wage Rates," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(3), pages 59-91, May.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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