Why is There No Income Gap between the Hui Muslim Minority and the Han Majority in Rural Ningxia, China?

38 Pages Posted: 22 Feb 2014

See all articles by Björn Gustafsson

Björn Gustafsson

University of Gothenburg - Department of Social Work; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Ding Sai

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)

Abstract

Using a household sample survey for 2006 we show that the Hui population in the rural part of Ningxia autonomous region of China is disadvantaged compared to the Han majority as regards length of education and household per capita wealth. Yet there is no gap in average disposable income between the two ethnic groups and poverty rates are very similar. This paradox is due to members of Hui households earning more income outside the farm than members of Han households. Particularly young male Hui living in poor villages have a remarkably high likelihood of migrating, thereby bringing home income to their households.

Keywords: China, ethnic minorities, Hui ethnicity, income, poverty, migration

JEL Classification: D31, J15, R23

Suggested Citation

Gustafsson, Bjorn and Sai, Ding, Why is There No Income Gap between the Hui Muslim Minority and the Han Majority in Rural Ningxia, China?. IZA Discussion Paper No. 7970, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2399810 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2399810

Bjorn Gustafsson (Contact Author)

University of Gothenburg - Department of Social Work ( email )

Göteborg
Sweden
+46 31-773-1890 (Phone)
+45 31-773-1888 (Fax)

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Ding Sai

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) ( email )

Beijing, 100732
China

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