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The long-term evolution of income inequality and poverty in China

Author

Listed:
  • Luo Chuliang
  • Li Shi
  • Terry Sicular

Abstract

By using the five waves of the China Household Income Project surveys conducted during 1988-2013, this paper investigates long-term changes in income inequality and poverty in China. Income inequality rose before 2007 and then fell by a small amount. The main reason for the rise in income inequality was that high-income percentiles had faster income growth than lower percentiles; the fall in income inequality implies faster income growth among low-income percentiles.

Suggested Citation

  • Luo Chuliang & Li Shi & Terry Sicular, 2018. "The long-term evolution of income inequality and poverty in China," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-153, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2018-153
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2018-153.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gustafsson,Björn A. & Shi,Li & Sicular,Terry (ed.), 2008. "Inequality and Public Policy in China," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521870450.
    2. repec:wbk:wbpubs:21634 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Gradín, Carlos & Wu, Binbin, 2020. "Income and consumption inequality in China: A comparative approach with India," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    2. Wang, Yan & Conesa, Juan Carlos, 2025. "The evolution of income and wealth inequality in China," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).

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