Migrant Opportunity and the Educational Attainment of Youth in Rural China

50 Pages Posted: 19 Jul 2005

See all articles by Alan de Brauw

Alan de Brauw

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

John Giles

World Bank; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

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Date Written: September 12, 2006

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how reductions of barriers to migration affect the decision of middle school graduates to attend high school in rural China. Change in the cost of migration is identified using exogenous variation across counties in the timing of national identity card distribution, which made it easier for rural migrants to register as temporary residents in urban destinations. We show that timing of ID card distribution is unrelated to local rainfall shocks affecting demand for migration, and not related to proxies reflecting time-varying changes in village policy or administrative capacity. We find a robust negative relationship between migrant opportunity and high school enrollment. The mechanisms behind the negative relationship are suggested by observed increases in subsequent local and migrant non-agricultural employment of high school age young adults as the size of the current village migrant network increases.

Keywords: Migration, educational attainment, rural China

JEL Classification: O12, O15, J22, J24

Suggested Citation

de Brauw, Alan and Giles, John, Migrant Opportunity and the Educational Attainment of Youth in Rural China (September 12, 2006). IZA Discussion Paper No. 2326, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=757726 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.757726

Alan De Brauw

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

John Giles (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

Washington DC
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 7 / 9
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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