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The Community Origins of Private Enterprise in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ruochen Dai

    (Peking University)

  • Dilip Mookherjee

    (Boston University)

  • Kaivan Munshi

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Xiaobo Zhang

    (Peking University)

Abstract
This paper identifies and quantifies the role played by birth-county-based community networks in the growth of private enterprise in China. The starting point for the analysis is the observation that population density is positively associated with local social interactions, social homogeneity, and enforceable trust in counties (but not cities). This motivates a model of network-based spillovers that predicts how the dynamics of firm entry, concentration, and firm size vary with birth county population density. The predictions of the model are validated over the 1990-2009 period with administrative data covering the universe of registered firms. Competing non-network-based explanations can explain some, but not all of the results. We subsequently estimate the structural parameters of the model and conduct counter-factual simulations, which indicate that entry and capital stock over the 1995-2004 period would have been 40% lower without community networks. Additional counter-factual simulations shed light on misallocation and industrial policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruochen Dai & Dilip Mookherjee & Kaivan Munshi & Xiaobo Zhang, 2019. "The Community Origins of Private Enterprise in China," Boston University - Department of Economics - The Institute for Economic Development Working Papers Series dp-320, Boston University - Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bos:iedwpr:dp-320
    as

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    File URL: http://people.bu.edu/dilipm/wkpap/ChinaoverallV31.pdf
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    3. Chong-En Bai & Chang-Tai Hsieh & Zheng Song & Xin Wang, 2020. "Special Deals from Special Investors: The Rise of State-Connected Private Owners in China," Working Papers 2020-170, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Community Networks. Enforceable Trust. Entrepreneurship. Misallocation. Informal Institutions. Growth and Development.;

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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