A Meta-analysis on the Heterogeneity of Human Capital Return Rates in China's Urban and Rural Areas

Abstract

By optimizing human capital in rural areas, a steady increase in the rates of return on human capital in rural areas will be achieved, and the fundamental problem of the difference in the rate of return on human capital between urban and rural areas will be solved.Based on the Chinese database "China Knowledge Network Database", "China Weipu Network Database", "China Wanfang Network Database", "Baidu Academic" and "Google Scholar Mirror", this article conducts a meta-analysis on the return to human capital in China . The forest map, Begger's test and meta-regression analysis are used as analysis methods to determine and test the heterogeneity. According to the forest map, the β1 effect size is combined and calculated that [Overall (I-squared) = 99.3%> 50%, p=0.000]; (Heterogeneity between groups:P =0.000 <0.05 ). According to the forest map, the β2 effect size is combined and calculated that [Overall (I-squared) =99.6%>50%, p=0.000]; (Heterogeneity between groups:P =0.003<0.05).According to the forest map, the Adj-R²effect size is combined and calculated that [Overall (I-squared) =99.8%>50%, p=0.000]; (Heterogeneity between groups:P =0.000<0.05). According to meta-regression analysis, the results of Adj-R² (Coef.)=0.081 >β1 (Coef.)=0.046>β2 (Coef.)=0.009 Indicate that the explanation strength of urban and rural factors to the human capital return rate under comprehensive considerations, namely Adj-R², is 8.1%, the explanation strength of urban and rural factors to the education return rate, namely β1, is 4.6%, and the explanation strength of urban and rural factors to the work experience rate of return, namely β2, is 0.09%. There are obvious differences between the different studies on the rate of return on human capital in China and the urban and rural areas; there is no publication bias in all the research variables; the urban and rural factors have a certain impact on the rate of return on human capital, mainly through education and work experience, among which urban and rural factors have the greatest impact on education of human capital.