sustainability Article The Economic Effects of China’s Distribution Industry: An Input-Output Analysis Jungseok Choi 1, Woohyoung Kim 2,* and Seokkyu Choi 3,* 1 Division of Chinese Studies, Sunmoon University, Asan 31460, Korea;
[email protected] 2 Graduate School of Technology Management, Kyunghee University, Yongin 17104, Korea 3 Division of General Studies, Sunmoon University, Asan 31460, Korea * Correspondence:
[email protected] (W.K.);
[email protected] (S.C.); Tel.: +82-31-201-2988 (W.K.); +82-41-530-8574 (S.C.) Abstract: This study contributes by analyzing the economic effects of China’s distribution industry based on China’s 2012 and 2017 input-output data. It analyzes changes in the forward and backward linkage effect over a five-year period in accordance with the Chinese government’s distribution industry policy. The coefficients of the effects of the Chinese distribution industry, using Input-Output Tables and a comparative analysis of the sensitivity of dispersion, were determined. In terms of the coefficient of influence, most of the sectors that ranked high in 2012 are related to manufacturing, except for lodging and catering. The sensitivity and influence coefficients indicate that the top-ranked sectors in 2012 were more affected by the raw materials and energy essential for manufacturing development than by the services sector. Keywords: China; input output analysis; economic effect; distribution industry Citation: Choi, J.; Kim, W.; Choi, S. The Economic Effects of China’s 1. Introduction Distribution Industry: An Since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China has continued to Input-Output Analysis. Sustainability grow at an annual average rate of 6 percent.