DISPARITIES IN CHINA'S LABOUR MARKETS BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58885/ijbe.v09i2.09.mbKeywords:
Disparities, Inequality, Labour Markets, Urban, Rural, ChinaAbstract
This paper focuses on examining the urban-rural gap in China's labour market, using CHFS data. The findings indicate that rural workers in China exhibit a high employment rate due to lower education levels, making it easier for them to secure basic jobs in society. However, they often face lower wages and lack housing and medical insurance, making it challenging for them to sustain themselves in urban areas. It is crucial to recognize that the economic well-being of workers is not solely determined by wage income but also by working conditions and stability. Disparities between urban and rural labour forces cannot be overlooked, as migratory workers also encounter distinct labour agreements and social welfare rights. Research suggests that individuals with lower education levels tend to fare better in rural areas, whereas those with higher education levels typically thrive in urban settings.
References
Aiyar, S. and Ebeke, C., 2020. Inequality of opportunity, inequality of income and economic growth. World Development, 136, p.105-115.
Bloemen, H. G. 1997. Job search theory, labour supply and unemployment duration. Journal of Econometrics, 79(2), 305-325.
Breunig, R. and Majeed, O., 2020. Inequality, poverty and economic growth. International Economics, 161, pp.83-99.
Chen, G., & Hamori, S. 2013. Rural labour migration, discrimination, and the new dual labour market in China. Springer Science & Business Media
Fleisher, B. M., & Yang, D. T. 2006. Problems of China's rural labour markets and rural-urban migration. The Chinese Economy, 39(3), 6-25. https://doi.org/10.2753/ces1097-1475390302
Hertel, T., & Zhai, F. 2006. Labour market distortions, rural–urban inequality and the opening of China's economy. Economic Modelling, 23(1), 76-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2005.08.004
Hertel, T. W., & Zhai, F. 2004. Labour market distortions, rural-urban inequality, and the opening of People's Republic of China's economy. World Bank Publications.
Hung, J. 2022. Hukou system influencing the structural, institutional inequalities in China: The multifaceted disadvantages rural Hukou holders face. Social Sciences, 11(5), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11050194
Unmaking China's Development. 2017. In defense of endogenous development: Urban and rural land markets. Unmaking China's Development. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316145616.004
Lee, L. 2012. Decomposing wage differentials between migrant workers and urban workers in urban China's labour markets. China Economic Review, 23(2), 461-470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2012.03.004
Lee, Y. N. 2020. Women in China are losing out in the workforce — that's bad news for the economy. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/23/china-women-are-losing-out-in-the-workforce-its-harmful-for-the-economy.html
Inequality – Income inequality-OECD data. The OECD. https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htm
Jones, C. I. 2013. Macroeconomics: Third international student edition. WW Norton & Company.
Ma, C., Song, Z. and Zong, Q., 2021. Urban-Rural Inequality of Opportunity in Health Care: Evidence from China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), p.7792.
Ma, L. 2012. Critical evaluation of the new rural-urban labour mobility in China: Reasons and effect of rural-urban labour migration on urban and rural labour market. Asian Social Science, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v8n3p321
Mincer, J., 1974. Schooling, Experience, and Earnings. Human Behavior & Social Institutions No. 2.
Mazumdar, D. 2019. Rural-to-Urban migration and labour markets. Urbanization and Urban Policies in Pacific Asia, 115-135. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429266898-6
Molero-Simarro, R., 2017. Inequality in China revisited. The effect of functional distribution of income on urban top incomes, the urban-rural gap and the Gini index, 1978–2015. China Economic Review, 42, pp.101-117.
OECD iLabrary., 2022. Income inequality. Available online from: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/0006afd1-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/0006afd1-en [Accessed on 19th Sep, 2022.]
Ye, Y., and LeGates. R., 2013 Restructuring land, labour, and capital markets. Coordinating Urban and Rural Development in China, 239-286. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781952030.00014
Su, B. and Heshmati, A., 2013. Analysis of the determinants of income and income gap between urban and rural China. China Economic Policy Review, 2(01), p.1350002.
Wang, S.X. and Fu, B.Y., 2019. Labour mobility barriers and rural-urban migration in transitional China. China Economic Review, 53, pp.211-224.
Wang, X., Shao, S. and Li, L., 2019. Agricultural inputs, urbanization, and urban-rural income disparity: Evidence from China. China Economic Review, 55, pp.67-84.
Xu, H. and Xie, Y., 2015. The causal effects of rural-to-urban migration on children’s well-being in China. European sociological review, 31(4), pp.502-519.
Xia, Q., Li, S., & Song, L. 2020. Consumption inequality in urban China. Changing Trends in China's Inequality, 267-294.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190077938.003.0009
Zhang, D., Li, X. and Xue, J., 2015. Education inequality between rural and urban areas of the People's Republic of China, migrants’ children education, and some implications. Asian Development Review, 32(1), pp.196-224.
Zhang, H. 2010. The Hukou system's constraints on migrant workers' job mobility in Chinese cities. China Economic Review, 21(1), 51-64.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2009.10.002
Zhao, S., Liu, S., Hou, X., Sun, Y. and Beazley, R., 2021. Air pollution and cause-specific mortality: A comparative study of urban and rural areas in China. Chemosphere, 262, p.127-148.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.