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Catching Up or Falling Behind? Income Distribution of Chinese Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Chun-Yu Ho

    (Department of Economics, Boston University)

  • Dan Li

    (Department of Economics, Boston University)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the evolution of Chinese urban income distribution across space and time in post-reform era. Our results suggest no evidence on income convergence across cities during the period 1984-2003. We find that cities with comparable income level are likely to be co-located in the same region; further, cities tend to mirror the mobility of their counterparts located in the same province, but not the same region. The divergence in urban income across the nation will continue if the current economic growth pattern persists in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Chun-Yu Ho & Dan Li, 2007. "Catching Up or Falling Behind? Income Distribution of Chinese Cities," Boston University - Department of Economics - Working Papers Series WP2007-22, Boston University - Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bos:wpaper:wp2007-22
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    City Income Distribution; Convergence; Markov Process; Spatial Dependence; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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