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The evolving pattern of the wage–labor productivity nexus in China: Evidence from manufacturing firm-level data

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  • Zhang, Jun
  • Liu, Xiaofeng

Abstract

By employing a large dataset of nation-wide state-owned and non-state-owned manufacturing enterprises in the period 1998–2007, this paper analyzes the evolving pattern of the correlation and spread between wages and labor productivity in China's manufacturing sector and its influence factors. We find that although a significant positive correlation between wages and labor productivity in manufacturing firms exists, this positive nexus has become weak and loose. We also find that, since the 1990s, the labor productivity of Chinese manufacturing enterprises has gained a much greater growth rate than that of the wage level, and therefore the spread between wages and labor productivity has been widening over time. A variety of factors that have influenced the wage–labor productivity nexus of Chinese manufacturing enterprises are identified and discussed with regression models.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Jun & Liu, Xiaofeng, 2013. "The evolving pattern of the wage–labor productivity nexus in China: Evidence from manufacturing firm-level data," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 354-368.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecosys:v:37:y:2013:i:3:p:354-368
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecosys.2013.05.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wu, Harry X., 2001. "China's comparative labour productivity performance in manufacturing, 1952-1997: Catching up or falling behind?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(2-3), pages 162-189.
    2. Marc J. Melitz, 2003. "The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(6), pages 1695-1725, November.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Torsten Heinrich & Jangho Yang & Shuanping Dai, 2020. "Growth, development, and structural change at the firm-level: The example of the PR China," Papers 2012.14503, arXiv.org.
    2. Tiara Maharani & Maman Setiawan, 2019. "The Relationship Between Labor Wage and the Labor Productivity of the Indonesian Textile and Garment Industry," Working Papers in Economics and Development Studies (WoPEDS) 201902, Department of Economics, Padjadjaran University, revised Jan 2020.
    3. Haroon Bhorat & Morné Oosthuizen & Kezia Lilenstein & François Steenkamp, 2017. "Firm-level determinants of earnings in the formal sector of the South African labour market," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-25, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Bai, Peiwen & Cheng, Wenli, 2020. "Relative earnings and firm performance: Evidence from publicly-listed firms in China, 2005–2012," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 279-290.
    5. Baležentis, Tomas & Li, Tianxiang & Chen, Xueli, 2021. "Has agricultural labor restructuring improved agricultural labor productivity in China? A decomposition approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Md Aslam Mia & Lucia Dalla Pellegrina & Cheng Zhang & Sunil Sangwan, 2022. "Efficiency Wage and Productivity in the Indian Microfinance Industry: A Panel Evidence," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 11(2), pages 235-252, July.
    7. Haroon Bhorat & Morné Oosthuizen & Kezia Lilenstein & François Steenkamp, 2017. "Firm-level determinants of earnings in the formal sector of the South African labour market," WIDER Working Paper Series 025, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Wage; Labor productivity; Manufacturing enterprises; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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