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Fiscal decentralization and China's regional infant mortality

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  • Brock, Gregory
  • Jin, Yinghua
  • Zeng, Tong

Abstract

Regional Chinese infant mortality rates (IMRs) are examined using a stochastic frontier method for the first time. The composite error term method yields estimates of large underreporting of IMRs over time and provinces in China during the past 30 years. China does not follow the standard growth paradigm of more growth leading to lower IMRs. Fiscal decentralization has not alleviated the problem of high IMRs. Both IMRs and the sex ratio at birth suggest reported data constitute a floor or minimal level of demographic distress across provinces with millions of missing females not fully included in the data. China's one-child policy leads to not only underreporting by families but also reporting abuse by local officials who want to be promoted. The hukou system and unbalanced government development policies exacerbate the issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Brock, Gregory & Jin, Yinghua & Zeng, Tong, 2015. "Fiscal decentralization and China's regional infant mortality," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 175-188.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:37:y:2015:i:2:p:175-188
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2015.03.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lin, Boqiang & Zhou, Yicheng, 2021. "How does vertical fiscal imbalance affect the upgrading of industrial structure? Empirical evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    3. Wenqiang Qian & Xiangyu Cheng & Guoying Lu & Lijun Zhu & Fei Li, 2019. "Fiscal Decentralization, Local Competitions and Sustainability of Medical Insurance Funds: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Infant mortality; China's regions; Fiscal decentralization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • O23 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Fiscal and Monetary Policy in Development
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • P25 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics

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