Export servitization of Chinese cities and individuals’ marriage and childbearing performance

Abstract

Based on the data from CHIP and IPUMS, this paper examines the impact of export servitization of Chinese cities on individuals’ marriage and childbearing performance. The results show that the deepening of export servitization may lead to a decline in the odds of getting married and having babies, resulting in a decrease in marriage and fertility levels. The heterogeneity analysis finds that the negative effect of increased export servitization leading to a decrease in individuals’ marriage and childbearing behaviors is more pronounced for individuals in eastern and central cities with more prosperous economies and better development of service and education, as well as individuals with lower income and education, females, women aged 20–34 and men aged 22–36, the Han ethnicity, and individuals of rural hukou. Furthermore, we investigate the channels through which export servitization affects individuals’ marriage and childbearing performance, and the results confirm that export servitization promotes income growth and the improvement of economic conditions reduces the demand for marriage and children.