China Labor-force Dynamics Survey Research Articles

Childhood migration experience and adult health: evidence from China’s rural migrants

BackgroundPlace of residence plays an influential role in shaping individual development, and studies have established links between Childhood migration experience (CME) and health outcomes through maturity. Over the past three decades, China has undergone one of the largest rural-to-urban migrations, however, little is known about the effect of CME on rural migrants’ adult health in China.MethodsData from 7035 members of the 2016 and 2018 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey were analyzed. CME was measured by whether the place of residence and place of birth changed at the age of 14 years. Three measures of health (self-assessed health, BMI, and mental health scale) were obtained. Causal inferential analysis was performed, using the Probit model, the OLS model and the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method, to explore the impact of CME on the adult health of rural migrants.ResultsOverall, compared to individuals who did not migrate in childhood, the probability of reporting “very unhealthy”, “rather unhealthy”, and “fair” in the self-assessed health of the rural migrants with CME decreased by 0.23%, 1.55%, and 5.53%, the probability of reporting “healthy” and “very healthy” increased by 1.94% and 5.38%, the probability of BMI within the normal range was higher by 7.32%, and the mental health test scores were 0.2591 points higher significantly. Furthermore, in comparison with childhood non-migration, both cross-county and cross-city migration promoted the health status of rural migrants, but the positive effect of cross-province migration was not significant; from the gender perspective, CME could more dramatically improve rural women’s adult health than men, especially in mental health.ConclusionCME can significantly improve adult health, including physical and mental health, and the positive effect is more obvious among women, helping to reduce gender differences in health. For the migration distance, attention can be focused on the long-distance migrating individuals, who should get more support.

From rural to urban: Clan, urbanization and trust

This study explores the persistence and transformation of culture amidst a critical economic process in China today, known as urbanization. Based on the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), we find that the clan, a central mechanism used to sustain cooperation in China's rural society, continues to impact trust traits amidst the ongoing urbanization process. Respondents from regions with a history of high clan density report higher levels of limited trust toward families, lower levels of generalized trust toward strangers, and a significant trust gap between these two. Nevertheless, the urbanization process is gradually mitigating the effect of clans on trust traits by driving the population from villages, providing public services to citizens, and promoting cooperation among strangers.

Does internet use improve employment?--Empirical evidence from China.

Achieving comprehensive and high-quality employment is essential to achieving new levels of people's well-being. The advancement of Internet technology not only affect the massiveness of employment, but also the quality of that. On the basis of constructing an employment quality evaluation index system, this article uses CLDS (China Labor-force Dynamics Survey) data to explore the impact of Internet use on the employment quality of workers and its underlying mechanisms. The results reveal that Internet use has a significant positive impact on improving the employment quality of workers. As the quantile of employment quality increases, internet use has a greater impact on workers with a lower employment quality quantile. In addition, the use of Internet has a more significant promoting effect on the employment quality of rural and female workers. From the perspective of mechanism, Internet use can increase workers' social capital and influence their employment quality through the accumulation of social capital. Based on this, countermeasures and suggestions are put forward from the aspects of increasing investment and construction of Internet infrastructure, further perfecting the reform of household registration system, promoting human capital investment and social capital construction.

Adding insult to injury: Living in a remote location increases the burden of gift expenses among the rural poor in China

AbstractBased on data from the China Labor‐force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), our study examines how geographical remoteness impacts farmers' gift expense burden. Farmers' gift expense burden increases significantly as the distance from the village to the county‐level city increases. Two key mechanisms for more remote rural areas exacerbate farmers' gift expense burden: stronger reliance on neighbours and relatives for assistance and more concentrated authority among local officials. Our research offers new perspectives on disparities in gift expense burden among farmers in developing countries and suggests viable avenues to alleviate their financial strain.

The Role of Internet and Social Interactions in Advancing Waste Sorting Behaviors in Rural Communities

Addressing the global challenge of sustainable waste management, this research investigates the influence of social dynamics and digital connectivity on rural residents’ willingness to adopt waste classification practices, essential for sustainable environmental management. Through a comprehensive analysis of 5413 rural participants surveyed in the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS), this study employs a novel mixed-methods approach. It integrates quantitative analysis with the Manski social interaction framework and a Recursive Bivariate Probit model to explore the intricate interplay between community interactions, internet access, and environmental behaviors. Our methodology stands out for its unique combination of social theory and econometric modeling to address a pressing environmental issue. Results highlight a significant effect of mobile internet use and social interactions within communities on enhancing willingness towards waste classification. Notably, digital connectivity emerges as a key facilitator of environmental engagement, mediating social influences, and fostering a collective approach to waste management. Considering these insights, we propose targeted policy interventions that blend digital strategies with traditional community engagement efforts. Recommendations include crafting digital literacy programs and leveraging social media to bolster community-centric environmental governance. By harnessing the synergistic potential of digital tools and social dynamics, these strategies aim to elevate the effectiveness of waste classification initiatives in rural China, offering a scalable model for environmental sustainability.

How Climate Change Affects Labor Mobility: Empirical Evidence from the CLDS

ABSTRACT Regional climate conditions have become a key factor that is exacerbating the process of China’s labor spatial mobility. In contrast to previous research based on mixed cross-sectional data and floating population sample selection, this study uses unbalanced panel data from the China Labor Force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) from 2014 to 2018 and a regional temperature dataset to examine the impact of climate change on inter-provincial and municipal labor mobility outflow from the perspective of local household registration, and further investigates regional reallocation and stock effects of labor related to climate change. The findings reveal four relevant results. First, after eliminating the influence bias of individual fixed effects, the labor force outflow effect of climate change across regions is significantly smaller than that found in previous research, at only one-fifth of existing research conclusions. Second, the mechanism analysis shows that temperature can affect labor mobility through individual health, happiness and government environmental regulation. Third, the impact of climate change on labor mobility has significant heterogeneity. Labor flows from underdeveloped regions to developed areas and from the central and western regions to the eastern region, and climate change has a greater impact for workers with higher education levels. In addition, climate change has a greater impact on workers with higher family incomes and family age structures. Fourth, the impact of climate change on labor mobility exhibits temperature-based threshold effects. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the impact of climate change on labor mobility, offering valuable policy support for guiding the rational flow of labor and urban managers’ formulation of strategically targeted measures.

Impact of the digital economy on public security: evidence from rural China

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of the digital economy on rural public security using data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey and applies an instrumental variable approach to solve the endogeneity problem. The results reveal that the digital economy positively impact rural public security. According to a mechanism test, the digital economy has a significant positive impact on rural public security through increased nonagricultural employment and household income. Hence, this study argues that the digital economy has a significant influence on advancing public security.

Analysing how government-provided vocational skills training affects migrant workers’ income: A study based on the Livelihood Capital Theory

This study explores the internal logic and influence mechanism of government-provided vocational skills training (GPVST) and migrant workers’ income level (IL) and income satisfaction (IS) using propensity score matching with difference-in-differences (PSM–DID), and it utilizes panel data collected by China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) in 2016 and 2018. The study indicates that participation in GPVST positively affects the IL and IS of migrant workers; further analysis reveals that GPVST is more capable of raising the foreign migrant workers’ IL, and that the positive effect on the IS pertaining to the older generation of migrant workers and local migrant workers is more significant. Mechanism analysis reveals that GPVST can indirectly enhance the IL and IS of migrant workers by increasing the skill-enhancing effect exerted by human capital, information-interaction effect exerted by social capital, and trickle-down effect exerted by financial capital; however, generally, the indirect effect of livelihood capital is stronger in the impact of GPVST on the IL, whereas the direct effect is stronger in the impact of GPVST on IS. The findings herein exhibit crucial practical value for strengthening GPVST and enhancing the livelihood capital and income of migrant workers.

Flush toilet use and its impact on health and non‐health expenditures

AbstractThis study analysed the effects of flush toilet use on health and non‐health expenditures incurred by rural Chinese. The instrumental‐variable‐based Tobit and endogenous treatment regression models were used to analyse the 2016 China Labour Force Dynamics Survey data while addressing the selection bias inherent in flush toilet use. The results showed that by improving rural residents' physical and mental health, flush toilet use reduced per capita health expenditure while increasing non‐health expenditure. Furthermore, using flush toilets had positive spillover effects, reducing the health expenditures of even those who did not use them. Factors affecting flush toilet use were also analysed.

How does mobility and urban environment affect the migrants' settlement intention? A perspective from the intergenerational differences.

With China embracing a new people-centered urbanization stage, the problem of migrants "flowing without moving" has become increasingly prominent, and settlement intention has gradually garnered attention. Our research, based on questionnaire data from the China Labor Force Dynamic Survey 2016, uses a multilevel linear regression model to explore the influence of mobility, social environment, built environment, and demographics characteristics on settlement intention in the migrants and discusses differences between settlement intention of new and old generations and their internal influence mechanism. The findings are as follows: (1) Compared to the old generation, the new migrant generation generally has higher settlement intention. (2) The migrants' settlement intention is influenced mainly by mobility, social environment, built environment, and demographic characteristics. (3) For the new migrant generation, social and demographic characteristics significantly influence their settlement intention. (4) The floating and built environment of the old generation significantly influence their settlement intention. Finally, this paper argues that there are differences in the influence mechanism of the same factors on the settlement intention of the new and old generations of migrants. It proposes differentiated policy suggestions for the migrants to promote city social integration. Finally, this paper argues that there are differences in the influence mechanism of the same factors on the settlement intention of the new and old generations of migrants. It proposes differentiated policy suggestions for the migrants to promote city social integration.

Urban-Rural Health Insurance Integration and China's Rural Household Savings.

A linchpin to realizing the internal circulation (referring to the domestic cycle of production, distribution and consumption) is reducing residents' saving rate and expanding the domestic needs. However, rural residents in China demonstrate a strong propensity to save money. In light of practical characteristics of urban-rural health integration promoted in different places, the three-phase data (from 2014 to 2018) and the dual difference-in-differences model of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) are used to empirically investigate the impact of urban-rural health insurance integration on rural household savings. Research reveals that urban-rural health integration can reduce the health risks and medical risks facing rural households, thus weakening the motivation of precautionary savings. The analysis of heterogeneity reveals that the integration of urban-rural health insurance significantly influences the savings rates of households headed by older individuals, particularly women, with lower levels of educational attainment. Besides, the single-tier health insurance system can have a more significant impact, whereas the multi-tier insurance system may not significantly affect the savings rate. Based on the aforesaid research conclusions, this article believes that in order to reduce the savings rate of rural households and expand consumption, the health insurance system should be further improved.

Mental health in China: exploring the impacts of built environment, work environment, and subjective perception.

The shifting living and working conditions have profound impacts on the residents' mental health. However, current research in this field has not remarkable investigated. This study used the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) dataset from 2018 and relied on a regression model to examine the effects of the built environment, work environment, and subjective perception on the mental health of Chinese citizens. It also considers the circumstances of both migrants and local residents. This study revealed significant correlations between mental health and greening space rate, road network density, commuting time, work feelings, community trust, economic satisfaction, and other factors. Additionally, the mental health of local residents was shown to be significantly affected by community security, while it shows no significance in migrants. Furthermore, a significant spatial autocorrelation was found in terms of mental health within the central and eastern regions of China. The findings of this study offer valuable insights that can be used to facilitate measures aimed at improving the mental health of residents and promoting the development of healthy cities.

Pollution Control and Well-Being in Rural Areas: A Study Based on Survey Data

Pollution control is of great value in order to achieve sustainable development and meet the needs of human development. This paper utilizes data from four rounds of longitudinal surveys conducted between 2012 and 2018 as part of the China Labor Force Dynamic Survey. Employing multiple linear regression methods, it empirically investigates the impact of pollution control on the well-being of rural residents. Empirical results show that even after accounting for individual, village, and family characteristics, pollution control significantly affects the happiness of rural residents. Notably, water pollution control emerges as having the most pronounced impact on rural residents’ happiness. Furthermore, pollution control enhances the well-being of rural residents by improving the village environment, fostering family harmony, and enhancing the physical and mental health of individuals. A heterogeneity analysis indicates that pollution control exerts a stronger influence on the happiness of residents in the central and western region and ordinary villages, while its impact is somewhat weaker in the eastern region. Addressing the pollution issue remains imperative, along with stimulating the endogenous drivers of rural ecological revitalization, enhancing the effectiveness of grassroots governance in rural areas, and continually bolstering the sense of well-being and happiness among the populace.

Green workspace and urban health: exploring the impacts of industrial robotics in pollution emissions and public health.

This study addresses a critical gap in understanding how technological advancements, specifically industrial robots, influence urban pollution emissions and public health. The rapid evolution of technology and changing working conditions significantly affect these areas, yet research has not extensively explored this domain. Utilizing 2018 China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) dataset, this study examines the impact of industrial robots on public health. An analytical framework is employed to assess the correlation between the adoption of eco-friendly industrial robots and improvements in worker health, attributed to the reduction of pollution emissions. The findings reveal that the adoption of industrial robots significantly enhance both public physical and mental health. This study also identifies potential demographic heterogeneity in the effects of industrial robots. The benefits are more pronounced among non-insured manual female workers who are older, have lower education levels, and hold rural hukou. These benefits are closely linked to improvements in the quality of the production environment and reductions in pollution emissions at both macro and micro levels. The study underscores the significant potential of industrial robots to positively impact urban health, advocating for strategies that promote the development of safer, greener environments.

Impact of Return Migration on the Employment Structure of Non-Migrants: Evidence from Rural China

Research on the impact of returnees on rural economic development in China is scarce with the increasing number of migrant workers returning to the countryside from Chinese cities. Data from China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) of 2014 and 2016 are used in this paper, attempting to discuss this issue from the perspective of the impact of returnees on the employment of the non-migrant labor force based on occupational skill structure. It is found that the higher the proportion of returnees at the county level is, the more non-migrants will shift to non-agricultural areas after controlling for the exogenous factors of returning reason. Stayers are more likely to work in the medium-skilled secondary industry and construction and escape away from the low-skilled service sector. Off-farm job opportunity and peer effect may be two main channels of returnees to influence job structure of non-migrants. This paper provides empirical evidence on the contribution of Chinese returnees to non-agricultural economic development in rural areas.

Urbanicity and Depression among Chinese Youth: a Cross-Sectional Study Based on the China Labor-Force Dynamic Survey

Urbanicity and Depression among Chinese Youth: a Cross-Sectional Study Based on the China Labor-Force Dynamic Survey

How does digital financial inclusion affect farmers’ choice of agricultural mechanisation: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Employing the 2014 and 2016 Digital Finance Inclusive Index of China and the China Labour-Force Dynamics Survey, this study explores the impact of the development of digital financial inclusion on farmers’ selection regarding agricultural mechanisation. The results illuminate that the extended inclusive digital financial services can incentivize farmers to outsource agricultural machinery services. This shift is facilitated by non-agricultural employment and expansion of the agricultural machinery services market, which act as mediators between the provision of inclusive digital financial services and the utilisation of agricultural machinery services. Additionally, the study discerns variations in the influence of digital financial inclusion on farmers’ decisions related to agricultural mechanisation based on the scale of their farmland. Specifically, the fostering of inclusive digital financial services exerts a significant impact primarily on small-scale farmers. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the depth of farmers’ adoption of digital financial inclusion plays a more substantial role in determining their inclination toward outsourcing agricultural machinery services than the breadth of its coverage.

Revenue-increasing effect of rural e-commerce: A perspective of farmers' market integration and employment growth

This study uses village and household matching information from the 2018 China Labor-force Dynamic Survey to analyze the impact of rural e-commerce on farmers’ revenue. The outcomes of the baseline regression and robustness discussions show that rural e-commerce greatly improved farmers’ revenue. After solving endogeneity problems in the model using rural clan power as the instrumental variable, the influence of e-commerce on farmers’ revenue is still significantly positive. Further analysis suggests that rural e-commerce directly affects farmers’ revenue by promoting farmers' market integration, and indirectly affects it by expanding affiliated industries that can promote employment growth. Furthermore, in the case of a higher level of transportation infrastructure development, the impact of rural e-commerce-affiliated industries on farmers’ revenue will be greater. However, not all farmers receive the same benefits from e-commerce. Farmers with more human capital receive more benefits from e-commerce. Our results have important policy implications for developing countries that hope to grow farmers’ revenue and rural development through e-commerce.

Urban digital economy, environmental pollution, and resident's health-empirical evidence from China.

In light of China's rapid advancement in the digital economy and the implementation of the "Healthy China" initiative, it is crucial to assess the impact of the digital economy on residents' health. This study analyzes data from the 2012, 2014, and 2016 China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) to evaluate the health of residents using both subjective and objective criteria. Furthermore, it calculates the digital economy development index for Chinese cities and investigates its influence on the subjective and objective health of residents, along with the underlying mechanisms. The empirical results reveal a U-shaped pattern in the effect of the digital economy on health levels, initially detrimental but subsequently beneficial. The analysis of mechanisms shows that the digital economy's development initially increases and then decreases environmental pollution, impacting health through environmental changes. Additionally, the study finds variations in this impact based on age and urban-rural differences, with more pronounced effects on rural and older adult populations, who also experience the U-shaped curve's turning point more rapidly. These findings highlight the necessity of advancing digital economy infrastructure to positively influence environmental quality and improve public health. The study emphasizes the urgent need for policymakers to invest in digital infrastructure to foster a sustainable and healthy future. This requires a holistic approach to development, focusing on both urban and rural areas, to promote inclusive growth and reduce the digital divide.

The impact of urban–rural medical insurance integration on medical impoverishment: evidence from China

BackgroundFinancial protection is a key dimension of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), and social medical insurance is an effective measure to provide financial protection. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of urban–rural medical insurance integration on medical impoverishment in China.MethodsWe collected the time of integration policy in 337 prefecture-level cities across China, combined with the longitudinal database of China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) from 2012–2016, and used a difference-in-differences (DID) method with multiple time periods at the city level to study the effect of urban–rural medical insurance integration on the medical impoverishment. Besides, to explore the heterogeneity of policy effects across populations, we conducted subgroup analyses based on respondents' age, household registration, and whether they were rural–urban migrants.FindingsA total of 8,397 samples were included in the study. The integration policy has significantly reduced the incidence of medical impoverishment (average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) = − 0.055, p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that the impacts on medical impoverishment varied by age group, and the integration policy has more effect on older people than on younger people (ATT for age 15–34 = − 0.018, p > 0.05; ATT for age 35–54 = − 0.042, p < 0.05; ATT for age 55–64 = − 0.163, p < 0.01). Moreover, the impacts also varied by household registration. The integration policy has a more significant impact on rural residents (ATT for rural = − 0.067, p < 0.05) compared to urban residents (ATT for urban = − 0.007, p > 0.05). Additionally, the policy has a bigger influence on rural–urban migrants (ATT for rural–urban migrated = − 0.086, p < 0.05) than on those who have not migrated (ATT for rural–urban unmigrated = − 0.071, p < 0.05).ConclusionChina's policy of integrating urban–rural medical insurance has been successful in reducing medical impoverishment, especially for older age, rural, and rural–urban migrated people. It can be speculated that the integrating policy may be adapted to other similar settings in developing countries to reduce medical impoverishment.