A meta-regression analysis of the hukou-based wage gap in China

Abstract This paper conducts a meta-regression analysis of 319 estimates from 76 empirical studies that quantify the unexplained component of hukou-based relative wage gaps in China. On average, the reported unexplained relative hukou wage gap across studies is 10.6%. We investigate how methodological and data-related choices influence the heterogeneity in reported estimates. Our findings show that studies using administrative data tend to report smaller unexplained gaps, and estimates appear to depend on the dimension of hukou being considered, as studies focusing on the urban–rural hukou dimension produce larger estimates. Estimates derived from Oaxaca–Blinder–Kitagawa methods are significantly larger than those using simple dummy variable regressions. The use of monthly wages leads to an underestimation of the gap, and that omitting controls for health status and industry systematically biases estimates downward. Tests for publication bias reveal no systematic reporting bias but consistent evidence of a genuine positive effect, confirming a significant underlying unexplained hukou-based wage gap. Overall, this study highlights how empirical choices shape the evidence base on hukou-related inequality and underscores the structural nature of wage disparities in China’s labour market.