China’s Apparel Imports from the Developed Countries

Abstract

Apparel imports of China from the world, especially from the OECD countries, are investigated in this paper. The relationship between apparel imports of China and personal income of its people is examined with a simple OLS regression model, and it is found that the imports are significantly influenced by income level, and the imports are income elastic, thus predicting accelerated growth of imports as income is expected to rise. Reasons for such imports are analyzed, and it is believed that the theory of preference similarity can be applied in conjunction with rising income level and increasing income inequality. In addition, implications of growing imports to both domestic and foreign apparel manufacturers are analyzed. Information of the paper should be of interest to policy makers and of use to apparel producers and marketers.

Citation

Zhang, Z. and Wang, Y. (1997), "China’s Apparel Imports from the Developed Countries", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 117-125. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-01-01-1997-B014