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QR Code-Based Mobile Payments and Financial Inclusion

Thorsten Beck, Leonardo Gambacorta, Yiping Huang, Zhenhua Li, Han Qiu, Nov 09, 2022

By means of a unique dataset of around half a million Chinese firms, we investigate the link between the use of a QR code-based mobile payment system and financial inclusion.

Unequal Transition: The Widening Wealth Gap amidst China’s Rapid Growth

Yangtian Jiang, Yu Zheng, Lijun Zhu, Nov 08, 2023

We examine the drivers of rising wealth inequality in urban China since 1995. We highlight the intertwined nature of growth and equity during China’s transition toward a market-oriented economy.

Superstition Everywhere

Jinfan Zhang, Huancheng Du, Mar 09, 2022

In Chinese culture, digit 8 (4) is taken as lucky (unlucky). We find that the numerological superstition has a profound impact across China’s stock, bond and foreign exchange markets, affecting asset prices in both the primary and secondary markets. The superstition effect, i.e., the probability of asset price ending with a lucky (unlucky) digit far exceeds (falls short of) what would be expected by chance, is everywhere.

The Value of Bankruptcy Court in Financial Distress: Evidence from Chinese Bond Market

Bo Li, Mai Li, Songnan Li, Laura Xiaolei Liu, Mar 15, 2023

In this paper, we find that the introduction of specialized bankruptcy courts, which are run by better-trained judges and subject to less government intervention, reduces the cost of bond financing by around 10%.

Picking Winners? Government Subsidies and Firm Productivity in China

Lee G. Branstetter, Guangwei Li, Mengjia Ren, Jun 21, 2023

We investigate the relationship between the allocation of government subsidies and total factor productivity for Chinese listed firms.