Revisiting income inequality among households: New evidence from the Chinese Household Income Project

The Gini coefficient has been widely used as a key indicator to measure income inequality. However, differences in the measurement methods and information in the sample are the main reasons for the bias in the Gini coefficient in China. In order to improve the accuracy of the measurement, we revisit income inequality among Chinese families and propose a multi-group Gini coefficient method from the perspective of optimizing the income distribution function. Based on the disposable income of households in the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP), a generalized logistic distribution function is used to measure national, urban and rural Gini coefficients and their contribution rates. The results indicate that: The multi-group Gini coefficient method based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm makes full use of valid microdata-related information, improves the accuracy of traditional methods of fitting urban or rural income distribution and reduces measurement bias based on the realities of China's binary economic structure and the large size of the population. Overall, the income inequality in China has widened over the five-year period from 2013 to 2018. On the one hand, it has been consistently found that the urban-rural income gap is the most important source of income inequality in China (making a contribution exceeding 50%); on the other hand, the contribution of income inequality within urban areas has increased significantly. Education and industry of urban and rural households as well as the difference in their rates of return are the main causes of the income gap between the urban and rural areas in China. Addressing the root causes of income inequality warrants the creation of institutional conditions for equitable access and points of departure in education and industry.

Automated summary

This article discusses the bias issues of the Gini coefficient as a measure of income inequality in China, and proposes a method based on multi-group Gini coefficients and particle swarm optimization algorithm to improve measurement accuracy. The research findings indicate that income inequality in China has widened from 2013 to 2018, with the urban-rural income gap being the main source of inequality. Differences in education, industry, and rates of return between urban and rural households are identified as the main causes of the urban-rural income gap.