From tariffs to transitions

How trade openness shapes occupational mobility in China

Bibliographic Data

ID22420516
AuthorsHang Shan (0000-0003-1219-4175, Innovative Development Institute Anhui University Hefei Anhui China), Naiqian Wu (0000-0001-8443-8736, School of Economics and Business Administration Central China Normal University Wuhan Hubei China, corresponding author)
Year2026
Publication date2026-06-12
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueContemporary Economic Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1074-3529 • E-ISSN: 1465-7287
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/coep.70046
OpenAlexW7164585062
LanguageEN
References cited33

This paper investigates how trade liberalization influences intergenerational occupational mobility in China. Using a sample of Chinese household‐level data, we find that liberalization in intermediate inputs significantly enhances mobility, especially upward mobility, whereas liberalization in final goods has no notable effect. The impact is stronger among rural households and those in central China. Further analysis suggests that education, cross‐industry labor transfer, and population migration are key mechanisms. The findings provide evidence that trade liberalization in developing economies can foster social mobility and inform policies promoting equitable labor opportunities.

China · Developing country · Free trade · Labor mobility · Liberalization · Openness to experience · Population · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Culture, Economy, and Development Studies · Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies

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