Foreign Direct Investment and Wage Inequality: Evidence from China

This study provides micro-level evidence on the close link between foreign participation and wage inequality. We investigate the wage premium and the wage spillover effect of foreign-invested enterprises in the Chinese manufacturing sector. The results indicate a significant foreign premium in both wage and non-wage compensation. The presence of foreign and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan (HMT) investment results in a significantly negative spillover in terms the wage level in domestic firms, and discourages wage growth in such firms. Overall, the evidence suggests that exposure to foreign investment increases inter-enterprise wage inequality.