Language and consumption

Haining Wang, Zhiming Cheng, Russell Smyth

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examine the relationship between proficiency in Mandarin and consumption in China. We find that proficiency in Mandarin has a positive effect on an individual's total consumption expenditure as well as most categories of consumption expenditure. We also find considerable heterogeneity in the effects of Mandarin proficiency on consumption across subsamples. In addition, we find that proficiency in Mandarin has a positive effect on relative consumption, irrespective of the manner in which the reference group is defined. Our results have important policy implications for debates on the promotion of a national language and, in particular, recent debate about the promotion of speaking Mandarin in China.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-151
Number of pages17
JournalChina Economic Review
Volume40
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2016

Keywords

  • China
  • Consumption
  • Human capital
  • Mandarin proficiency

Cite this

Wang, Haining ; Cheng, Zhiming ; Smyth, Russell. / Language and consumption. In: China Economic Review. 2016 ; Vol. 40. pp. 135-151.
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Wang, H, Cheng, Z & Smyth, R 2016, 'Language and consumption', China Economic Review, vol. 40, pp. 135-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2016.06.009

Language and consumption. / Wang, Haining; Cheng, Zhiming; Smyth, Russell.

In: China Economic Review, Vol. 40, 01.09.2016, p. 135-151.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

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AB - We examine the relationship between proficiency in Mandarin and consumption in China. We find that proficiency in Mandarin has a positive effect on an individual's total consumption expenditure as well as most categories of consumption expenditure. We also find considerable heterogeneity in the effects of Mandarin proficiency on consumption across subsamples. In addition, we find that proficiency in Mandarin has a positive effect on relative consumption, irrespective of the manner in which the reference group is defined. Our results have important policy implications for debates on the promotion of a national language and, in particular, recent debate about the promotion of speaking Mandarin in China.

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Wang H, Cheng Z, Smyth R. Language and consumption. China Economic Review. 2016 Sep 1;40:135-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2016.06.009

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