Income growth, inequality and poverty reduction: A case study of eight provinces in China

This paper examines the growth performance and income inequality in eight Chinese provinces during the period of 1989–2004 using the China Health and Nutrition Survey data. It shows that income grew for all segments of the population, and as a result, poverty incidence has fallen. However, income growth has been uneven, most rapidly in coastal areas, and among the educated. A decomposition analysis based on household income determination suggests that income growth can largely be attributed to the increase in returns to education and to the shift of employment into secondary and tertiary sectors.     

Community poverty and inequality in western China: A tale of three villages in Guizhou Province

Using a census survey of households in Guizhou Province, this paper examines the patterns of village poverty and inequality and their major correlates. The results show that poverty incidences vary greatly among villages and inequality is relatively high within villages in these impoverished areas. Although agriculture is still the major source of livelihood in this inland western region, income from local nonfarm jobs and remittance is more unevenly distributed and accounts for the largest share of overall income inequality. Surprisingly, blood donation is another major source of cash income. On the expenditure side, health care was found to be one of the most important sources of inequality. The paper also found that the distribution of assets, particularly land holdings, contributes to overall income inequality.     

Accuracy and reliability of China's energy statistics

Many observers have raised doubts about the accuracy and reliability of China's energy statistics, which show an unprecedented decline in recent years, while reported economic growth has remained strong. This paper explores the internal consistency of China's energy statistics from 1990 to 2000, coverage and reporting issues, and the state of the statistical reporting system. Available information suggests that while energy statistics were probably relatively good in the early 1990s, their quality has declined since the mid-1990s. China's energy statistics should be treated as a starting point for analysis, and explicit judgments regarding ranges of uncertainty should accompany any conclusions.     

The poverty implications of alternative tax reforms: Results from a numerical application to Pakistan

This paper presents results from four simulations of the impact of potential tax reforms in Pakistan on poverty, shared prosperity, and inequality. The simulations are carried out in the context of a dynamic computational general equilibrium (CGE) model that incorporates endogenous tax evasion. The simulations link the CGE model to household survey data that is incorporated in a micro simulation model. The combined models suggest that equal yield increases in sales and corporate tax rates differ mildly in their impacts on consumption and poverty. Endogenously modeled tax evasion plays an important role in the results.     

Welfare measures and the composition of the bottom decile: The example of gender and extreme poverty in South Africa

We examine the composition of the bottom decile in South Africa using three alternative measures of socio-economic status (SES): an asset index, household income per capita and household expenditure per capita. We show that the gender composition of the bottom decile is sensitive to the measure used. We discuss possible reasons for these discrepancies, highlighting gender differences in asset ownership and location. This has implications for the use of asset indices for identifying the poorest members of society.     

Targeted poverty investments and economic growth in China

In the mid-1980s, the Chinese government launched its ambitious poor area development policy, which was centered around a series of grant, credit, and Food-for-Work programs. Ironically, for the remainder of the 1980s rural poverty remained at about 90 to 100 million, or approximately 10% of the rural population. The lack of progress cannot necessarily be blamed on ineffective poor area policies, since much of the agricultural economy was mired in a deep recession between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. By the mid-1990s substantial additional poverty reduction had been achieved. Even in the late-1980s, farmers in many poor counties did better than the national average in terms of income growth. After accounting for the effects of macroeconomic elements, what factors can help explain the differences in performance among poor regions and between poor areas and rich ones? Can part of these differences be accounted for by poor area policies, in general, or by the way local and regional officials allocate their poor area investment funds, in particular?The overall objective of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of Chinese poor area policy. Specifically, the paper seeks to meet three objectives. First, we want to understand the evolution of poor area policy since the mid-1980s, trying to deduce the true goals of central and regional poor area officials, as well as how these policies have been implemented in the provinces. Next, we want to understand the magnitude and scope of investment into poor areas, and examine if changes in these policies have affected the uses of the investment funds. Finally, we want to determine the effectiveness of the investment of poor area funds, analyzing which types of investments have generated growth, and which ones have not.     

跨国公司对华投资新动向及中国的对策

随着中国经济实力的增强,特别是加入WTO以后,跨国公司对华投资步入一个新的阶段,大多数跨国公司对华投资战略进行了调整,出现了如投资项目系统化、投资地点向中西部地区转移等新的特点。针对跨国公司对华投资新动向,我们应该系统改善投资环境,加强对跨国公司投资的技术、资源导向等,从而使跨国公司的对华投资能够最大程度上有利于我国经济结构的调整及国民经济的发展。     

社会资本在减轻农村贫困中的作用：文献述评与研究展望

近年来,社会资本在减轻农村贫困中的作用逐渐成为发展经济学家关注的一个热点。本文分别从静态和动态两个视角综述了相关研究的思路和方法：从静态视角来看,信任对于减少绝对贫困有积极的作用,但某些形式的社会资本难以减轻绝对贫困,关于社会资本是否能减轻相对贫困则尚未取得一致的认识;从动态视角来看,社会资本通过非正式保险的机制平滑消费、减轻暂时贫困,通过促进融资和创业、保护产权、促进公共品提供和劳动力流动,有助于消除长期贫困。总的来看,随着市场化进程的深入,社会资本反贫困的积极作用有减弱的趋势。本文基于理论评述,提出了深化社会资本的减贫理论机制（尤其是对相对贫困的作用机制）、市场化进程中的社会资本反贫困机制、改进社会资本测量、加强因果效应识别等未来的研究方向。     

社会资本在减轻农村贫困中的作用：文献述评与研究展望

近年来,社会资本在减轻农村贫困中的作用逐渐成为发展经济学家关注的一个热点。本文分别从静态和动态两个视角综述了相关研究的思路和方法：从静态视角来看,信任对于减少绝对贫困有积极的作用,但某些形式的社会资本难以减轻绝对贫困,关于社会资本是否能减轻相对贫困则尚未取得一致的认识;从动态视角来看,社会资本通过非正式保险的机制平滑消费、减轻暂时贫困,通过促进融资和创业、保护产权、促进公共品提供和劳动力流动,有助于消除长期贫困。总的来看,随着市场化进程的深入,社会资本反贫困的积极作用有减弱的趋势。本文基于理论评述,提出了深化社会资本的减贫理论机制（尤其是对相对贫困的作用机制）、市场化进程中的社会资本反贫困机制、改进社会资本测量、加强因果效应识别等未来的研究方向。     

The 1997–1998 break in industrial statistics: Facts and appraisal

In 1998, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the published industrial statistics modified the scope of enterprises covered and the enterprise classification system. This paper highlights the modifications and identifies two implications. First, the use of a proportional allocation rule in data aggregation boosts the size of “public ownership,” an important cornerstone of socialism. Second, the switch from compiling detailed statistics on enterprises identified by an administrative criterion to enterprises that exceed a fixed volume of sales revenue poses new difficulties for comparative data analysis but also represents a change in statistical practice that may yet lead to data of better quality.     

The measurement of small-scale industry for China's GDP accounts

The shift to an economy driven by small-scale private industry requires an adaptation of China's statistical system to rely on sample survey methods rather than the comprehensive reporting that suited a state-dominated economy. In 1998, the number of enterprises reporting directly to the National Bureau of Statistics was reduced, but a system of aggregation through levels of the government hierarchy has remained in place for smaller enterprises pending the development of suitable sample survey techniques. A pilot survey will be conducted in Jiangsu Province for the first three quarters of 2001.     

Villages where China's ethnic minorities live

This paper investigates how ethnic minorities in rural China are faring compared with the ethnic majority. The village is the unit of analysis and large surveys for 2002 are used. Minority villages in northeast China are found to have a somewhat better economic situation than the average majority village, but minority villages in the southwest are clearly faring worse. Industrialisation, inputs in agricultural production, stock of human capital of the labour force, wage level on the local labour market as well as indicators of path dependency are all found to affect the economic situation of a village. Location is the single most important circumstance working against a favourable economic situation for minority villages in the northwest and particularly the southwest. Low village income results in long-distance migration for many ethnic minorities, but for some minorities their ethnicity hinders migration.     

商洛农村社区贫困成因及扶贫模式研究——以陕西商州国家扶贫开发重点区为例

农村建设包括农村社区和个体农户发展两个层面,二者必须统筹兼顾.以陕西商洛国家扶贫开发重点区商州为例,探寻乡村社区贫困成因及治理模式.农村社区贫困是多因素长期共同作用的产物,包括自然条件恶劣,交通落后,贫困文化影响,产业结构不合理和森林资源利用政策制约等.乡村社区扶贫应以整村推进、移民搬迁和特色产业开发为主,辅以劳务输出和教育扶贫.     

马克思理论视角下我国城市贫困及反贫困研究

20世纪90年代以来,中国城市贫困问题日益显现,已成为国家经济增长、社会稳定、家庭和个人全面发展的阻碍。依据马克思贫困理论的三个层面,从技术基础、表现形态和制度决定,分析转型期我国城市贫困的产生背景、社会构成和结构成因,提出了城市反贫困的途径,旨在为我国的城市贫困研究提供借鉴。