Designing occupational regulations capable of balancing the need to protect consumers on the one hand with the need to minimize barriers to employment and entrepreneurship on the other has become a public policy priority in many countries, including China. In a State Council executive meeting on...

We examined the recent occupational regulation changes in China and their labor market impacts. Using data from the China Labor-Force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) from 2014 to 2018, we found an earning premium of approximately 10 percent, as well as more employment-based benefits, for those with an...