China Has Reached the Lewis Turning Point

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Citation

Zhang, Xiaobo; Yang, Jin; & Wang, Shenglin (2011). China Has Reached the Lewis Turning Point. China Economic Review, 22, 542-554.

Abstract

In the past several years, labor shortage in China has become an emerging issue. However, there is heated debate on whether China has passed the Lewis turning point and entered a new era of labor shortage from a period of unlimited labor supply. Most empirical studies on this topic focus on the estimation of total labor supply and demand. Yet the poor quality of labor statistics leaves the debate open. In this paper, China's position along the Lewis continuum is examined though primary surveys of wage rates, a more reliable statistic than employment data. Our results show a clear rising trend of real wages rate since 2003. The acceleration of real wages even in slack seasons indicates that the era of surplus labor is over. This finding has important policy implications for China's future development model.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2011.07.002

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2011

Journal Title

China Economic Review

Author(s)

Zhang, Xiaobo
Yang, Jin
Wang, Shenglin