Fiscal Decentralization and China's Regional Infant Mortality

14 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2015 Last revised: 21 Apr 2015

See all articles by Gregory J. Brock

Gregory J. Brock

Georgia Southern University - Department of Economics

Yinghua Jin

Independent

Tong Zeng

University of La Verne-Department of Applied Business Sciences and Economics

Date Written: April 14, 2015

Abstract

Regional Chinese infant mortality rates (IMRs) are examined using a stochastic frontier method for the first time. The composite error term method yields estimates of large underreporting of IMRs over time and provinces in China during the past 30 years. China does not follow the standard growth paradigm of more growth leading to lower IMRs. Fiscal decentralization has not alleviated the problem of high IMRs. Both IMRs and the sex ratio at birth suggest reported data constitute a floor or minimal level of demographic distress across provinces with millions of missing females not fully included in the data. China’s one-child policy leads to not only underreporting by families but also reporting abuse by local officials who want to be promoted. The hukou system and unbalanced government development policies exacerbate the issue.

Keywords: Infant mortality, China’s regions, Fiscal decentralization

JEL Classification: J11, O23, O53, P25

Suggested Citation

Brock, Gregory and Jin, Yinghua and Zeng, Tong, Fiscal Decentralization and China's Regional Infant Mortality (April 14, 2015). Journal of Policy Modeling, Vol. 37, No. 2, 2015, pp. 175-188, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2594338 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2594338

Gregory Brock (Contact Author)

Georgia Southern University - Department of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 8153
Statesboro, GA 30460-8153
United States
912-478-5579 (Phone)

Yinghua Jin

Independent ( email )

Tong Zeng

University of La Verne-Department of Applied Business Sciences and Economics ( email )

1950 Third Street
La Verne, CA 91750
United States

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