ineguaglianza di reddito e consumi in Cina

This thesis investigates the reasons behind the low household consumption rates in China, and the relation between inequality and consumption. Inequality is considered both in the form of uneven national income distribution between households, government and corporations, both in terms of inequality among households. The thesis also looks at how inequality among households has been reflected in consumption. In order to do so, data on ownership of three durables are used to calculate the coefficient of variation of these three goods and its changes in the years from 1995 to 2007. The main finding is that inequality in the consumption of these goods has been primarily between rural and urban areas, with rural areas following the consumption pattern of urban areas with a delay of ten years.