自1980年代初期改革開放以來，中國各省(市)的勞動薪資不均度(labor earnings inequality)有逐年增加的現象。進一步觀察發現以東部地區勞動薪資不均程度的成長最為快速，至2000年之後，東部地區已成為勞動薪資不均程度最高的地區。本文利用中國家庭收支調查(China Household Income Project; CHIP) 1988、1995、2002三年的個體問卷資料，分別從地方特徵因素、貿易面因素、技能偏向技術變動及總體景氣狀況等因素解釋造成勞動薪資不均擴大的原因。實證結果發現於1988至2002年間造成中國各省(市)勞動薪資不均程度提升的因素主要來自教育溢酬的增加，並且證實在貿易開放度(trade openness)的擴增與中國經濟高度成長之際，進口總額的累積和外人直接投資(FDI)的流入確實會造成各省(市)教育溢酬的成長，進而導致勞動薪資不均度增加的現象。

The phenomenon of earnings inequality in urban China has become more serious since early 1980s, after China’s economic reforms. By investigating the tendency of earnings inequality, it is observed that changes in earnings inequality in east coastal towns were most significant with which have been the highest across all resions in China after the year of 2000.
In this study, we employ three years micro survey data on 1988, 1995 and 2002 from China Household Income Project (CHIP), aiming at exploring to what extents the local characteristics , free trade ,skill biased technological change and business cycle impact earnings inequality. Empirical results show that the increase in educational wage premium is the main factor driving earnings inequality during the study time periods. In addition, we also found that the expansion of trade openness, high economic performance, total imports and the inflow of FDI had brought about the growth of educational premium, which in turn leads to the significant rises in earnings inequality.

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