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The Evolution of Gender Earnings Gaps and Discrimination in Urban China: 1988-1995

Author

Listed:
  • Sylvie DEMURGER

    (HIEBS, the University of Hong Kong and CNRS (France))

  • Martin FOURNIER

    (CEFC (Hong Kong))

  • CHEN Yi

    (CERDI, Université d’Auvergne (France))

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of market liberalization on gender earnings differentials and discrimination against women in urban China at the beginning of the 90s. The observed stability in the overall gender earnings gap between 1988 and 1995 is shown to result from a complex set of evolutions across enterprises, earnings distributions and time. Our results highlight the interplay of opposing forces, economic reforms contributing to changes in managers’ behaviors in different dimensions. On the one hand, by bringing more competition, liberalization favored a reduction in discriminating behaviors in both urban collectives and foreign-invested enterprises; on the other hand, by relaxing institutional rules, it led to a loosening of the government’s egalitarian wage setting policies, leaving more space for discrimination in state-owned enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvie DEMURGER & Martin FOURNIER & CHEN Yi, 2006. "The Evolution of Gender Earnings Gaps and Discrimination in Urban China: 1988-1995," Working Papers 23, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2006-23
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    File URL: http://www.ecineq.org/milano/WP/ECINEQ2006-23.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lam, Kevin C.K. & McGuinness, Paul B. & Vieito, João Paulo, 2013. "CEO gender, executive compensation and firm performance in Chinese‐listed enterprises," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 1136-1159.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender earnings differentials; discrimination; enterprise ownership; urban China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • P23 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Factor and Product Markets; Industry Studies; Population

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