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Polarization and the middle class in China: A non-parametric evaluation using CHNS and CHIP data

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  • Schettino, Francesco
  • Gabriele, Alberto
  • Khan, Haider A.

Abstract

Since the 1990s, and until the beginning of the second decade of the XXIth century, record economic growth in the PRC has been inclusive (as virtually all social groups experienced sizeable well-being improvements in an absolute terms). Yet, it has been accompanied by an increase in both income inequalities and polarization.

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  • Schettino, Francesco & Gabriele, Alberto & Khan, Haider A., 2021. "Polarization and the middle class in China: A non-parametric evaluation using CHNS and CHIP data," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 251-264.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:57:y:2021:i:c:p:251-264
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2021.04.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Ravallion, Martin & Chen, Shaohua, 2022. "Fleshing out the olive? Observations on income polarization in China since 1981," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    2. Zhang, Chen & Yu, Yangcheng & Li, Qinghai, 2023. "Top incomes and income polarisation in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    3. Xuan Chen & Guoping Li, 2023. "Middle Class Vulnerability in China: Measurement and Determinants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Bortolotti, Luca & Biggeri, Mario, 2022. "Is the slowdown of China's economic growth affecting multidimensional well-being dynamics?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 478-489.
    5. Fleisher, Belton & McGuire, William & Su, Yaqin & Zhao, Min Qiang, 2018. "Innovation, Wages, and Polarization in China," MPRA Paper 87105, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Khan, Haider & Schettino, Francesco, 2018. "Income Polarization in the USA (1983-2016): what happened to the middle class?," MPRA Paper 85554, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Domenico Suppa, 2023. "Note bibliografiche: Schettino F. e Clementi F. (2022), Crisi, disuguaglianze e poverta'. Le iniquita' del capitalismo, da Lehman Brothers alla Covid-19, II edizione aggiornata, Napoli: La Citta' del ," Moneta e Credito, Economia civile, vol. 76(301), pages 107-110.
    8. Vide Romana Korez & Zavrl Irena & Hunjet Anica, 2021. "Exploring Emerging Markets’ Demographic and Macroeconomic Dynamics and the Middle Class Growth: The Case of China and India," Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy, Sciendo, vol. 67(4), pages 33-55, December.
    9. Schettino, Francesco & Khan, Haider A., 2020. "Income polarization in the USA: What happened to the middle class in the last few decades?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 149-161.
    10. Chiara Assunta Ricci & Sergio Scicchitano, 2021. "Decomposing changes in income polarization by population group: what happened during the crisis?," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 38(1), pages 235-259, April.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • P3 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions
    • P35 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Public Finance
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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