Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP8106 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details   |   Bibliographic Reference

Full Details

Title: Relaxing Hukou: Increased labor mobility and China?s Economic Geography

Author(s): Maarten Bosker, Steven Brakman, Harry Garretsen and Marc Schramm

Publication Date: November 2010

Keyword(s): China, economic geography and labor mobility

Programme Area(s): International Trade and Regional Economics

Abstract: China?s Hukou system poses severe restrictions on labor mobility. This paper assesses the consequences of relaxing these restrictions for China?s internal economic geography. We base our analysis on a new economic geography model. First, we obtain estimates of the important model parameters on the basis of information on 264 of China?s prefecture cities over the period 1999-2005. Second, and by using our estimation results as input, we simulate various long-run scenarios of China?s internal economic geography that differ in their degree of interregional labor mobility. We find that increased labor mobility will lead to more pronounced core-periphery outcomes. Interestingly, these agglomerations are not necessarily along the coastal regions. Given the increased importance of China?s internal market, firms agglomerate in the populous heartland of China. China?s internal demand will be the most important determinant of its future economic geography.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=8106

Bibliographic Reference

Bosker, M, Brakman, S, Garretsen, H and Schramm, M. 2010. 'Relaxing Hukou: Increased labor mobility and China?s Economic Geography'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=8106