Special Economic Zones and Human Capital Investment: 30 Years of Evidence from China
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy · 2023 · Fangwen Lu、Weizeng Sun、Jianfeng Wu
中文摘要
本研究利用中国经济特区数量众多且类型丰富的特点，考察此类特区如何影响人力资本投资。结果表明，经济特区显著提高了当地高中入学率，但这一影响因特区类型而异：技术导向型特区鼓励教育，而出口导向型特区则抑制教育。经济特区内针对具有高中学历雇员的就业机会增加和工资溢价提高了高中入学率，而针对具有初中学历雇员的此类机会和工资则降低了入学率。影响中极小一部分（如果有的话）可归因于收入增加。（JEL I21, I26, J24, J31, O15, P23, R32）
Abstract
By exploiting the large quantity and rich variety of special economic zones (SEZs) in China, this study investigates how such zones affect human capital investment. Results show that SEZs significantly increase the local high school enrollment rate, but the impact varies across zone types: technology-oriented zones encourage education, while export-led zones discourage it. The increased job opportunities and wage premiums inside SEZs for employees with high school education increase high school enrollment, while such opportunities and wages for employees with middle school education decrease enrollment. A very small portion of the impact, if any, can be attributed to increased income. (JEL I21, I26, J24, J31, O15, P23, R32)