Xiaobing Wang on finding common prosperity in China

Xiaobing Wang presents at the WIDER Seminar Series on 30 November 2022.

Towards common prosperity in China

Co-authors: Shi Li, Yangyang Shen, and Peng Zhan

Abstract

This paper develops a new class of poverty and inequality measures we call common prosperity. This measure complements existing classes of measures and allows decomposition across income sources or components of consumption expenditure. This framework enables us to study the trade-off between productivity-enhancing public investment and public transfers, and to link the inequality of opportunity and the labor market. We apply this theoretical framework to five waves of the China Household Income Projects data from 1988 to 2018. It shows how China is gradually moving from deep poverty to moderate prosperity, and examines the problems China is facing in order to achieve common prosperity for everyone.

About the presenter

Dr. Xiaobing Wang is a senior lecturer (associate professor) in Department of Economics at the University of Manchester, and the research director at Manchester China Institute. He received his PhD degree from King’s College London, and his masters’ degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Birmingham. Xiaobing Wang’s research is in the area of Growth and Development, Structural Change, and the Economics of China, with special interest in Chinese development models, and the income distribution in China. He has extensive media experience (TV, radio and newspaper) and is a frequent commentator on the Chinese economy and a wide range of global economic issues such as global imbalances and aid to Africa.

WIDER Seminar Series

The WIDER Seminar Series showcases the latest research on key topics in development economics. It provides a forum for senior and early-career researchers, both in-house and external, to present recent and ongoing work related to UNU-WIDER’s current work programme.

In addition to providing a forum for both academic debate and training, the series presents an opportunity for policy makers and others interested in development to learn about the latest research methods and findings.

The Seminar Series events take place on Wednesdays. All those interested are invited to register and attend via Zoom.