Regional Education Integration in China Dataset

This study, analyzing 2012-2017 panel data, explores the impact of the 2014 Yangtze-river-delta Regional Education Integration Policy (YREIP) on education inequality in Chinese universities. While the YREIP improved educational quality in the Yangtze-river-delta (YRD), it widened the gap between YRD and non-YRD regions. Post-implementation, undergraduate education quality increased, but graduate education quality declined in both regions, leading to a growing disparity. The emphasis on elevating undergraduate education in elite YRD universities exacerbated education inequality within and between regions. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) validated these findings, offering insights for policymakers and researchers in developing nations.