Reducing Inequality for Shared Growth in China

The World Bank

Description

Guangdong, a province of over 93 million residents, is located on the southern coast of China, boarding with Hong Kong, China. As China's powerhouse for economic growth and a pioneer of reform and opening up, Guangdong has maintained an annual average GDP growth rate of 13.7 percent over the past three decades. Its historical achievements notwithstanding, Guangdong witnessed increased inequality and regional disparity.
To assist the authority in developing a strategy for the new phase of reforms that promotes more inclusive and sustainable growth, Reducing Inequality for Shared Growth in Guangdong Province recommends a three-pillar approach: eliminating absolute poverty, reducing inequality in opportunities, and containing inequality in outcomes. The book also proposes a range of policy actions in these three broad areas. First, to further develop the social assistance program (i.e. the minimum living allowance program ) to address the issue of absolute poverty; Second, to improve income opportunities of the rural poor by better facilitating rural labor migration to non-farming jobs and urban labor markets, deepening rural finance reform, and providing better protection of their rights over land. Third, to invest in people through more equitable access to and financing of social services such as basic education, skills development, and health care. Further reform of the intergovernmental fiscal system is essential to the success of these efforts.
This report will be of interest to central and sub-national policy makers, policy implementing agencies, researchers, development partners, and others working on economic and social development in China and in other countries. Guangdong's experience will offer great value to the rest of China and to other countries that are grappling with similar development challenges.

Sujets

• China
• Guangdong
• Inequality
• Poverty
• Growth
• Geography
• Éducation
• Health
• Migration

Informations

• Publié par: world-bank-publications
• Publié le: 07 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 27
• EAN13: 9780821384848
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 5 Mo

Extrait

DIRECTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT
Human De v elopmen t
Reducing Inequalit y f or
Shared Growth in China
Strategy and Policy Options for
Guangdong ProvinceReducing Inequality for Shared
Growth in ChinaReducing Inequality for
Shared Growth in China
Strategy and Policy Options for
Guangdong Province© 2011 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington DC 20433
Telephone: [phone]
Internet: www.worldbank.org
All rights reserved
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This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and
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ISBN: 978-0-8213-8484-8
eISBN: 978-0-8213-8501-2
DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-8484-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Reducing inequality for shared growth in China : strategy and policy options for Guangdong
province.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8213-8484-8 — ISBN 978-0-8213-8501-2 (electronic)
1. Guangdong Sheng (China)—Social conditions—21st century. 2. Guangdong Sheng
(China)—Social policy. 3. Guangdong Sheng (China)—Social planning. 4. City planning—
China—Guangdong Sheng. 5. Education—China—Guangdong Sheng. 6. Social change—. 7. Guangdong Sheng (China)—Politics and government—21st
century. I. World Bank.
HN740.G83R43 2010
307.3'4095127—dc22
2010030042
Cover photo: Panorama Media Limited
Cover design: Naylor Design, Washington, DCContents
Foreword by Wang Yang xvii
Foreword by James W. Adams xxiii
Acknowledgments xxvii
Abbreviations xxix
Overview 1
Background of Guangdong Province 3
The Challenge of Inequality in Guangdong 4
Reducing Inequality with Spatially Unbalanced
Growth 10
Reducing Inequality: A Three-Pillar Strategy 12
Eliminating Absolute Poverty through the
Dibao System 15
Boosting Rural Income by Giving People
Opportunities 18
Investing in People through More
Equitable Service Delivery 29
Conclusion 39
Notes 41
References 42
vvi Contents
Chapter 1 Understanding Poverty and Inequality
in Guangdong 45
Measuring Poverty in Guangdong 49
The Current Poverty Situation in Guangdong 53
Profile of the Poor 62
Inequality in Guangdong 65
Summary and Policy Implications 74
Notes 76
References 76
Chapter 2 Supporting the Poor through Rural Dibao 79
How to Evaluate a Social Assistance Program 81
Evolution and Main Policy Features of Rural
Dibao in Guangdong 83
Challenges Faced by the Dibao Program
in Guangdong 86
Building a Dibao Program for the Future:
Policy Recommendations 98
Notes 102
References 102
Chapter 3 Developing an Efficient and Integrated
Labor Market in Guangdong Province 103
Labor Market Overview 106
Barriers to a Mobile and Flexible Labor Market 116
Policy Implications 120
Notes 124
References 124
Chapter 4 Making Finance Work in Reducing Inequality
and Poverty in Guangdong 127
The Current Situation 131
Issues and Problems 147
Conclusions and Summary of Recommendations 157
Annex 4.1 Comparison of the Regulation
Framework for Commercial Banks and
Rural Financial Institutions, 2008 162
Annex 4.2 Different Requirements for
Microloan Companies by Central versus
Local Authorities 164Contents vii
Annex 4.3 Innovative MSE Lending Project
in China 168
Annex 4.4 Mutual Societies in Poor Villages 170
Notes 171
References
Chapter 5 Guangdong: Reforming Land Policy for
Better Rights Protection and a Healthier
Development Pattern 173
A New Platform for Pursuing Bolder Innovations 174
Conclusions 190
Notes 192
References 192
Chapter 6 Spending for Compulsory Education
in Guangdong 193
Key Outcome Gaps in Compulsory Education 195
Spending Gaps in Compulsory Education and the
New Free Compulsory Education Scheme 204
Conclusions and Policy Implications 235
Annex 6.1: Outcome Indicators in
Guangdong Province 244
Annex 6.2: Spending Indicators in 247
Notes 259
References 260
Chapter 7 Skills Development in Guangdong Province 261
Preparing for Change 264
Meeting the Challenge for Skills Development 274
Annex 7.1: Tables 287
Annex 7.2: Rural and Urban Household Surveys 296
Notes 299
References 300
Chapter 8 Reducing Regional Disparities in Health
Services in Guangdong Province: Challenges
and Options 303
The Challenge of Inequality and
Regional Disparities 305viii Contents
Resource Mobilization and Allocation 314
Summary and Recommendations 320
Improvement of the Efficiency and Equity of
Health Protection Schemes 321
Strengthening of Health Services Delivery
Capacity in the Lagging Areas 332
Issues Needing Further Attention and
Suggestions for Further Study 340
Notes 341
References 342
Index 343
Boxes
1.1 Guangdong Rural and Urban Household
Survey Data 48
1.2 Measuring the Incidence, Depth, and Severity
of Poverty 54
1.3 Measuring Inequality 66
3.1 105
4.1 Understanding Finance 128
4.2 The Financial Crisis Legacy in Guangdong 135
4.3 The Microlending Experiments by China
Postal Savings 147
5.1 Vietnam: Land Policy Reforms and National
Land Registration Program 177
5.2 Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) 181
5.3 The Case of Atlanta 184
5.4 Smart Growth 185
5.5 Property Tax as Good Local Tax 189
6.1 Examples of Funding Formulas in Central America 240
8.1 MA Pilot in the Yubei District of
Chongqing Municipality 331
8.2 Practice on Retention of Rural Health Workers 338
Map
O.1 The Four Regions of Guangdong Province 3
Figures
1.1 Comparison of GDP and Per Capita GDP across
China’s Provinces, 2007 46