Fresh insights

The young economists in the Poverty Research Network tackled a range of topics within the broad theme of poverty and inequality. For example:

• A study tracking changes between 2001 and 2005 found that earnings differentials between migrant workers and urban local workers had narrowed in Chinese cities and discrimination against migrant workers had eased slightly (Wang Meiyan, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences).
  
  
•  An evaluation of the effectiveness of price subsidies in reducing the financial burden of health care for rural residents concluded that subsidizing outpatient treatment would be more helpful for the poor than reimbursing in-patient costs (Feng Jin, Fudan University, Shanghai).
  
  
• An examination of economic development and fiscal transfers at the county level found huge disparities across China, with fiscal disparities showing a persistent upward trend (Yin Heng, Beijing Normal University).  
  
  
• A project now underway is gathering new evidence to support policy recommendations to improve the welfare of children left behind in rural areas (with relatives or at boarding schools) when parents migrate to cities for work (Ye Chunhui, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou).

 Next: Mapping the network
 Previous: Declining poverty, rising inequality

Back to China Scholars Home