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Policy Responses to Domestic Challenges :

Policy Responses to Domestic Challenges :. Inequality. Background. Recall our discussion of Global commodity chains Labor Put China in comparative context. China as the world’s factory: wage rates were very low in the 1980s - 90s. 0.50. Japan EU Korea.

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Policy Responses to Domestic Challenges :

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  1. Policy Responses to Domestic Challenges: Inequality

  2. Background • Recall our discussion of • Global commodity chains • Labor • Put China in comparative context

  3. China as the world’s factory: wage rates were very low in the 1980s-90s 0.50 Japan EU Korea Australia Mexico Brazil Sri Lan. China US Hourly Wage, 1990s Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  4. Recall that in the 1970s and 1980s, most things were made in Taiwan, South Korea (and Hong Kong, Singapore … and Mexico) Korea 1970s /Early 1980s 0.50 0.75 Japan EU Korea Australia Mexico Brazil Sri Lan. China US Hourly Wage, 1990s Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  5. But through the 1980s and 1990s, South Korea’s wages rose rapidly … Korea 1970s /Early 1980s Korea Today 13.56 0.50 0.75 0.75 Japan EU Korea Australia Mexico Brazil Sri Lan. China US Hourly Wage, 2005 Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  6. South Korea in the 1970s/1980s How did South Korea make this transformation? Percent of students that go to High School • Labor force was highly educated … • As of early 1980s, almost everyone (urban and rural) in South Korea graduated from high school Today 1980s Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  7. But, not all countries made this transformation (from middle income to rich) as smoothly in the 1980s and 1990s as South Korea Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  8. And just as in Korea, wages in Mexico began rising in the late 1980s and early 1990s … Mexico looked like it was on the path to becoming a developed country … Mexico Early 1970s Mexico Mid-1990s 4.00 0.50 0.75 Japan EU Korea Australia Mexico Brazil Sri Lan. China US Hourly Wage, 1990s Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  9. As would be expected, low-wage factories in Mexico shut down and moved elsewhere in the world…but could Mexican workers get better, higher paying jobs?

  10. South Korea in the 1970s/1980s Mexico in the 1980s! BUT, Mexico’s education system did not succeed in educating large share of the labor force for the new economy … Percent of students that go to High School 1980s 1980s Today Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  11. Ex’s of Countries/Regions that Have Moved from Middle Income to High Income After WWII[“Graduates”] Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  12. List of Countries/Regions that Have Moved from Middle Income to High Income After WWII and the GINI Ratios (“Graduates”) Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  13. Aspirees Inequality (gini ratios) Argentina (46) Brazil (54) Chile (52) Costa Rica (50) Malaysia (46) Mexico (52) Russia (42) Thailand (42) Tunisia (41) Turkey (43) Uruguay (42) Venezuela (44) China: 50 and rising! Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  14. So how different are inequality levels in the successfully graduating countries and the countries currently aspiring to move from middle income to high income? • Average Graduates: 33 • Average Aspirees: 46 • GAP between Graduates / Aspirees 13 Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  15. Poverty and Inequality in China • Slides • Measures • Gini coefficient • 1980 .33 • 1995 .45 • 2002 .45 • 2012 .50

  16. Human capital enables countries to “move up” the productivity ladder  Education • Health Can China move up?

  17. Human capital and inequality ≈ 35% of school-aged children in poor rural areas (> 50 million children, ages 6 to 15) cities other rural Remember: today’s children are tomorrow workers and professionals … Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  18. High school: urban- rural (poor) gap China in the 2005 Mexico in the 1980s! Percent of students that go to High School Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  19. College: urban-rural (poor) gap Percent of students that go to college 70% 2% Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  20. Results from 2009/2010 REAP survey of poor, rural areas Nearly 40 percent of students from poor rural areas are dropping out of junior high school Drop out rate ? 9% 14% 15% Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Source: Scott Rozelle, REAP,Stanford

  21. Hu Jintao/Wen Jiabao leadership • Building a “harmonious society” • Attempt to address inequality

  22. Inequality • Education • Health care  under-funded by state during first two decades of reform

  23. Recall characteristics of fiscal system • Revenues controlled by center • Expenditures very decentralized • Center allocates 30% of budget • Localities allocate 70% • Local governments tasked with funding • Health • Education • Society security • Welfare, old-age pensions, unemployment

  24. Recall: increases in equalizing intergovernmental fiscal transfers to support rural areas

  25. New Rural Programs • Farm subsidies • Direct subsidies to farmers • Subsidies for agricultural inputs • Abolition of agriculture tax • Free compulsory education grades 1-9 • Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme • Rural Social Security Program

  26. Inequality in access to health care • Health care in rural China • As of 2000, roughly 80% of people in rural China were without health insurance of any kind

  27. Inequality in access to health care • Health care in rural China • Illness major driver of poverty • lack of health insurance raised the number of rural households living below the poverty line by an estimated 44% • low-income families had to cover high-out-of-pocket medical costs themselves

  28. Inequality in access to health care • Health care in rural China • NEW Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme (2003) • Implemented in 86% of counties by 2007 • Subsidies per enrollee: • 40 RMB from the central government and 40 RMB from local governments • Reimbursement • Formula for inpatient service • Medical savings account for outpatient services and preventive care

  29. Inequality in access to health care • Health care in rural China • Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme • Benefits • Significantly improved access to care • Remaining challenges • Has not significantly reduced “out-of-pocket expenditure” • Rural household still face “catastrophic expenditure risk”

  30. Recall characteristics of fiscal system • Expenditures very decentralized • Center allocates 30% of budget • Localities allocate 70% • Local governments tasked with funding • Health • Education • Society security • Welfare, old-age pensions, unemployment

  31. Hu Jintao/Wen Jiabao leadership • Slowly shifting emphasis in inter-governmental fiscal transfers

  32. Central-local regular intergovernmental fiscal transfers (equalizing)

  33. Intergovernmental fiscal transfers to support rural tax/fee reform (equalizing)

  34. Earmarked intergovernmental fiscal transfers (often disequalizing)

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