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The Effects of Wage Distortions on the Transition: Theory and Evidence from China

Author

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  • Gordon, R.H.
  • Li, D.D.

Abstract

Before the reforms, the Chinese government had strong distributional objectives, which it pursued mainly by direct controls over state enterprise wage rates and hiring decisions. During the reform period, similar controls over state enterprises continued, but use of them had to re ect competition with the new nonstate sector that was mostly free from these controls. Based on these distributional considerations alone, we can explain: 1) a decline in the skills of workers in the state sector as the most able workers leave, 2) higher productivity in the nonstate sector, which consists of the most able workers, 3) accounting losses in the state sector, re ecting the transfer of tax revenue to nance higher wage payments to the unskilled, and 4) restructuring within the state sector, to reduce the distortions to relative wage rates. Many of these attributes are shared with other types of transition process.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon, R.H. & Li, D.D., 1997. "The Effects of Wage Distortions on the Transition: Theory and Evidence from China," Papers 97-04, Michigan - Center for Research on Economic & Social Theory.
    • Handle: RePEc:fth:michet:97-04
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philippe Aghion & Olivier Jean Blanchard, 1994. "On the Speed of Transition in Central Europe," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1994, Volume 9, pages 283-330, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Roland, Gerard, 1993. "The political economy of restructuring and privatization in Eastern Europe," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(2-3), pages 533-540, April.
    3. Sachs, J.D. & Woo, W.T., 1994. "Structural Factors in the Economic Reforms of China, Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union," Papers 94-01, California Davis - Institute of Governmental Affairs.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dong, Xiao-yuan & Bowles, Paul, 2002. "Segmentation and discrimination in China's emerging industrial labor market," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(2-3), pages 170-196.
    2. Zhong Zhao, 2005. "Migration, Labor Market Flexibility, and Wage Determination in China: A Review," Labor and Demography 0507009, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Almas Heshmati & Biwei Su, 2013. "Development and Sources of Labor Productivity in Chinese Provinces," China Economic Policy Review (CEPR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(02), pages 1-30.
    4. Feng, Shuaizhang & Guo, Naijia, 2019. "Labor Market Dynamics in Urban China and the Role of the State Sector," IZA Discussion Papers 12170, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Bai, Chong-En & Li, David D. & Tao, Zhigang & Wang, Yijiang, 2000. "A Multitask Theory of State Enterprise Reform," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 716-738, December.
    6. Shuaizhang Feng & Naijia Guo, 2019. "Labor Market Dynamics in Urban China and the Role of the State Sector," Working Papers 2019-008, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    7. Feng, Shuaizhang & Guo, Naijia, 2021. "Labor market dynamics in urban China and the role of the state sector," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 918-932.
    8. Yang, Zhenbing & Shao, Shuai & Fan, Meiting & Yang, Lili, 2021. "Wage distortion and green technological progress: A directed technological progress perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    9. Jed Friedman, 2004. "Firm Ownership and Internal Labor Practices in a Transition Economy: An Exploration of Worker Skill Acquisition in Vietnam," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series 2004-696, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
    10. Xiao-Yuan Dong & Paul Bowles, 2002. "Segmentation et discrimination dans le marché du travail émergent de l'industrie chinoise," Revue d’économie du développement, De Boeck Université, vol. 10(3), pages 73-111.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    PUBLIC SECTOR ; ECONOMIC REFORM ; WAGES ; LABOUR MARKET ; PRODUCTIVITY;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe
    • P50 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - General

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