Import liberalization and Chinese citizens’ sense of social fairness: empirical research based on 2010–2015 CGSS data

Efficiency and fairness are major social goals. However, the international trade literature focuses on how trade affects economic efficiency, ignoring the issue of fairness. This study examines the impact of import liberalization on Chinese residents’ sense of social fairness using Chinese General Social Survey data covering 2010–2015. It finds that import liberalization improves Chinese residents’ sense of social fairness and that this effect is more significant for groups with low education levels, low incomes, and low social class. Further empirical results show that import liberalization improves Chinese residents’ sense of social fairness by reducing income inequality (Result Fairness) and promoting class mobility (Opportunity Fairness). These findings imply that import liberalization is important for realizing social equity and that there is a great need to promote reform through opening-up in order to foster a fair and just institutional environment.