Abstract: Regarding the effect of standardization on economic growth, previous studies have primarily focused on the impacts of standardization on economic operation efficiency, while overlooking its role in income distribution. Based on the micro-level financial data of the manufacturing enterprises in China from 2011 to 2023, this study incorporates the logistics standardization policy implemented progressively since 2014 into a staggered difference-in-differences model to examine the income distribution effects of standardization. The findings indicate that logistics standardization can significantly enhance the labor income share of enterprises, providing empirical support for standardization’s role in improving income distribution patterns. The mechanism by which logistics standardization enhances the labor income share of enterprises involves optimizing the human capital structure and mitigating labor market segmentation. Specifically, logistics standardization increases the hiring of highly educated and skilled employees, raises their proportion within the workforce, and significantly reduces the degree of labor market segmentation. The heterogeneity analysis shows that logistics standardization has a more significant effect on the labor income share of the non-state-owned enterprises, the high-tech industry enterprises, the enterprises in regions with stronger policy implementation, and the enterprises in regions with better logistics hardware infrastructure. Therefore, China should take logistics standardization as the core focus, accelerate the construction of a sound standardized circulation system, strengthen the support of circulation infrastructure, and build a coordinated policy system for talent and finance.

Key words: logistics standardization, labor income share, income distribution, common prosperity