China’s economic growth model and progress under Gaige Kaifang David Dollar Senior Fellow Brookings Institution March 2014
Outline Key features of China’s reform Some comparison with growth records of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan Economic and social outcomes China’s reform 2.0
GDP per capita in China and East Asian neighbors (Penn version 8)
China’s economic reform Household responsibility system Open up to foreign trade and investment (join WTO in 2001) Legalize the private sector Ease up on migration restrictions
Followed the export-led model of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan – but with some differences Slower movement of labor out of agriculture Even higher investment rate Large trade surplus at an earlier stage Very low household income and consumption
China’s agricultural share of the labor force is high for its per capita GDP
China’s investment rate has risen to unprecedented levels
China developed trade surpluses at an earlier stage of development
China’s household consumption is very low
Followed the export-led model of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan – but with some differences Slower movement of labor out of agriculture Even higher investment rate Large trade surplus at an earlier stage Very low household income and consumption
China’s unusual institutional features Household registration (hukou) Repressed financial system with undervalued exchange rate Open, competitive manufacturing but closed, uncompetitive services (SOEs) One-party rule
China’s exchange rate pegged to the dollar until 2005
Good economic outcomes, but… Extraordinary growth and poverty reduction But rising inequality Terrible air and water pollution Increasing corruption Old model economically and environmentally unsustainable
Poverty has declined dramatically
Inequality has risen
“Growth still is good for the poor” in a sample of 118 countries Correlation between average income growth and income growth in the Bottom 40% is robust over time – Slope ~1 in both time periods ( and )
Growth still is good for the poor No worldwide trend in bottom 40% share – in either direction Change in inequality uncorrelated with growth Growth explains 77% of the variation in income of the bottom 40% No institutional or policy variables are robustly correlated with change in quintile share
China’s corruption is high for its level of income (World Bank Control of Corruption Index, 2011)
China: structural reforms to improve efficiency of investment, spur innovation and encourage consumption Hukou reform SOE privatization or commercialization Financial liberalization Opening up of services more generally Incentives for local government
Premier Li Keqiang’s speech to the National People’s Congress, March 5, million urban registrations for migrants Financial liberalization Opening up services to foreign investment Broaden incentives for local government
Useful sources of data and information Brookings.edu (Thornton China Center) Penn world tables version 8 World Development Indicators World Governance Indicators