nep-cna New Economics Papers
on China
Issue of 2012‒11‒11
three papers chosen by
Zheng Fang
Ohio State University

  1. The Determinants of Rural Migrants' Employment Choice in China: Results from a Joint Estimation By Cui, Yuling; Nahm, Daehoon; Tani, Massimiliano
  2. Demographic Patterns and Household Saving in China By Steven Lugauer; Nelson Mark
  3. Aggregate Savings and External Imbalances in China By Yang, Dennis Tao

  1. By: Cui, Yuling (Macquarie University, Sydney); Nahm, Daehoon (Macquarie University, Sydney); Tani, Massimiliano (Macquarie University, Sydney)
    Abstract: This paper investigates the determinants of employment choice of rural migrant workers across state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and various subtypes of non-state owned enterprises (non-SOEs) by taking into account unobservable characteristics that link the choice to migrate with the choice of employer. Using pooled cross-section data for 1995 and 2002, the results indicate that the choice of employment is positively related to unobserved determinants of migration. This result implies that estimating employment choices without controlling for migration status leads to biased estimates. Most rural migrants appear strongly pulled into non-SOEs because of the higher wages and despite longer working hours. The provision of pension benefits also positively motivates employees' choices.
    Keywords: rural migrant workers, employment choice, SOEs, non-SOEs, China
    JEL: C35 J21 J61
    Date: 2012–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6968&r=cna
  2. By: Steven Lugauer (Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame); Nelson Mark (Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame)
    Abstract: This paper studies how changing demographics can explain much of the evolution of China's household saving rate from 1955 to 2009. We undertake a quantitative investigation using an overlapping generations model in which agents live for 85 years. Agents begin to exercise decision making when they are 20. From age 20 to 63, they work. From age 20 to 49, they also provide for children. Dependent children's consumption enters into the parent's utility, and parents choose the consumption level of the young until they leave the household. Working agents transfer a portion of their labor income to their retired parents and save for their own retirement. Retirees live of of their accumulated assets and support from current workers. We present agents in the parameterized model with the future time-path of the demographics, interest rates and wages as given by the data and analyze their saving decisions. The simulated model accounts for nearly all the observed increase in the household saving rate from 1955 to 2009.
    Keywords: Saving Rate, Life-Cycle, China, Demographics, Overlapping Generations
    JEL: E2 J1
    Date: 2010–12
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nod:wpaper:006&r=cna
  3. By: Yang, Dennis Tao (University of Virginia)
    Abstract: Over the last decade, the internal and external macroeconomic imbalances in China have risen to unprecedented levels. In 2008, China's national savings rate soared to over 53 percent of its GDP, whereas its current account surplus exceeded 9 percent of GDP. The current paper presents a unified framework for understanding the structural causes of these imbalances. I argue that the imbalances are attributable to a set of policies and institutions embedded in the economy. Moreover, the accession of China to the World Trade Organization has dramatically amplified the effects of these structural distortions. I document major trends in aggregate savings, investment, trade, and net foreign asset positions in China, and explore options for policy reforms aimed at rebalancing the Chinese economy.
    Keywords: aggregate savings, current account, income distribution, structural distortions, trade policies, China
    JEL: E21 O16 F32
    Date: 2012–10
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6964&r=cna

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