Labor Force Dynamics Research Articles

A novel interpretation of farmland abandonment: evidence from the famine experience

The growing severity of farmland abandonment in rural areas has sparked concerns about the lack of people willing to cultivate the land. This study attempts to find the endogenous factors of farmland land abandonment among Chinese farmers and to curb land degradation to stabilize food security. Based on the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (2016–2018), this paper explores the effect of famine experience on farmland abandonment using logit and DID models. We find that famine experience does increase the probability and extent of farmland abandonment, and undergo a series of robustness tests. We also find that the famine stigma effect increases the likelihood and extent of farmland abandonment by increasing risk aversion and reducing social trust and investment in agriculture. The growth of urbanization in China worsens the effects of famine, whereas local communal production services remove the effects of famine. The overall findings of this study provide useful insights for the government to protect land quality and food security and to carefully consider the role played by communities.

Impact of comparative advantages in origin and destination cities on return migrant workers' entrepreneurship: An induced network analysis

Return migrant workers' entrepreneurial choices hinge on the comparative advantages between their origin and destination cities. However, prior research has predominantly concentrated on the economic environment solely within migrant workers' origin cities, disregarding the dual impact of both origins and destinations on return entrepreneurship. This study aims to elucidate how the comparative advantages between origin and destination cities affect the behavior of return migrant workers' entrepreneurship, focusing on the paired relationships formed by these cities as a result of the emergence of return migrant workers' entrepreneurship. To this end, this study leverages data from the 2018 China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) and the 2018 China City Statistical Yearbook, and utilizes the network MRQAP regression and network OLS regression methods. The findings highlight that migrant workers exhibit a stronger propensity to return for entrepreneurship when their origin cities possess greater comparative advantages in terms of economic development, employment status, standard of living, and entrepreneurial environments compared with their destination cities. Additionally, the heightened activity and significance of origin cities relative to destination cities in regard to economic growth rate, medical resources, and enterprise R&D investment correspond to a higher likelihood of migrant workers returning for entrepreneurship. These outcomes inform the development of theories related to population migration, and shed light on the relationship between return migrant workers' entrepreneurial endeavors and the regional disparities in economic development.

The impact of subjective intergenerational mobility on well-being: evidence from China

Although social mobility has been shown to be essential for subjective well-being, empirical evidence on the relationship between subjective intergenerational mobility and well-being in the developing world is relatively limited and needs to be more comprehensive and conclusive. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of subjective intergenerational mobility on the well-being of Chinese residents. Using data from the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey conducted from 2012 to 2016, the results revealed an upward trend in the subjective intergenerational mobility of Chinese residents. Specifically, subjective intergenerational elasticity increased from 0.264 in the 1950s to 0.390 in the 1980s. Subjective intergenerational mobility positively influences well-being. In particular, it exerts an indirect positive effect on the well-being of Chinese residents through the self-evaluation of health and social inequality. This study also proves that the subjective Great Gatsby Curve exists in China. The practical implications of this research are that the human capital of Chinese residents should be improved and that restrictive institutional systems should be discontinued to improve residents’ subjective social status.

Reducing farmland abandonment by raising women’s education levels: Evidence from China

With the rapid industrialization and the growing demand for male labor in urban industries, agricultural production in many developing countries presents obvious feminization features. Accordingly, improving the education level of rural women is the key to increasing farmland return and reducing farmland abandonment. Using data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study examines the effect of rural women’s education on farmland abandonment. The results reveal that for each increase in the education level of a hostess in a rural household, the abandoned farmland of that household decreases by 40 m2. The increase in women’s education level can promote the use of the Internet, help households access credit, and better control the costs of agricultural production, thus curbing farmland abandonment. In addition, women’s education can play a stronger role in reducing farmland abandonment for rural areas where the land rental market is well developed, as well as for families whose male hosts go out to join non-farm work.

Can socialised agricultural services balance equity and efficiency? Analysis from the perspective of government-market relationships

ABSTRACT Socialized agricultural services (SASs) are becoming increasingly popular in developing countries to address future farming challenges. In China, there is an ongoing debate in the academic community regarding the equity and efficiency issues arising from whether SASs have a ‘smallholder crowding out’ effect. By using data from the 2018 China Labour Force Dynamics Survey, we first investigate the equity problem of SASs using a Logit model and then analyse the efficiency problem of SASs using the propensity score matching model. Specifically, we examine whether smallholder farmers have equal access to SASs when different entities provide services and whether SASs can effectively increase farmer cultivation returns. We find that smallholder farmers have equal access to SASs and that SASs can significantly improve farmer returns on grain production, meaning SASs can balance efficiency and equity. Furthermore, SASs can enhance the efficiency of land resource allocation by accelerating land transfer, leading to increased returns. These findings indicate that China should accelerate the construction of SAS system, improve relevant rules for the SAS market, and support smallholder farmers in adopting SASs.

Volunteer participation and depression: Interplay of familial trust and autonomy

Depression, a critical public health concern, has a complex relationship with volunteerism, one often seen as beneficial for mental health but varying across cultural contexts. This study probed this dynamic within China, factoring in the moderating effects of familial trust and individual autonomy. Engaging a broad sample of 16,348 individuals aged between 15 and 64 years from the 2018 China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey, I deployed a cross-sectional design with stratified probability sampling. Advanced statistical analyses using Stata software revealed that volunteerism was linked to heightened depressive symptoms, but this effect was significantly moderated by familial trust, especially among those individuals with greater autonomy. These insights challenge the assumption that volunteerism is universally advantageous for mental health, underscoring the nuanced role of cultural context and advocating for culturally informed mental health interventions.

Multilevel medical insurance mitigate health cost inequality due to air pollution: Evidence from China

BackgroundAir pollution affects residents’ health to varying extents according to differences in socioeconomic status. However, there has been a lack of research on whether air pollution contributes to unfair health costs.MethodsIn this research, data from the China Labour Force Dynamics Survey are matched with data on PM2.5 average concentration and precipitation, and the influence of air pollution on the health expenditures of residents is analysed with econometric methods involving a two-part model, instrument variables and moderating effects.ResultsThe findings reveal that air pollution significantly impacts Chinese residents’ health costs and leads to low-income people face health inequality. Specifcally, the empirical evidence shows that air pollution has no significant influence on the probability of residents’ health costs (β = 0.021, p = 0.770) but that it increases the amount of residents’ total outpatient costs (β = 0.379, p < 0.006), reimbursed outpatient cost (β = 0.453, p < 0.044) and out-of-pocket outpatient cost (β = 0.362, p < 0.048). The heterogeneity analysis of income indicates that low-income people face inequality due to health cost inflation caused by air pollution, their total and out-of-pocket outpatient cost significantly increase with PM2.5 (β = 0.417, p = 0.013; β = 0.491, p = 0.020). Further analysis reveals that social basic medical insurance does not have a remarkable positive moderating effect on the influence of air pollution on individual health inflation (β = 0.021, p = 0.292), but supplementary medical insurance for employees could reduce the effect of air pollution on low-income residents’ reimbursed and out-of-pocket outpatient cost (β=-1.331, p = 0.096; β=-2.211, p = 0.014).ConclusionThe study concludes that air pollution increases the amount of Chinese residents’ outpatient cost and has no significant effect on the incidence of outpatient cost. However, air pollution has more significant impact on the low-income residents than the high-income residents, which indicates that air pollution leads to the inequity of medical cost. Additionally, the supplementary medical insurance reduces the inequity of medical cost caused by air pollution for the low-income employees.

A Generalized Model of Misclassification Errors and Labor Force Dynamics

A Generalized Model of Misclassification Errors and Labor Force Dynamics

Overtime work and Chinese workers' physical and mental health: The mediating role of social support and work value awareness.

China was once called the world's factory. Chinese workers had long weekly working hours. However, the empirical results of the relationship between overtime work and workers' health are mixed and remain inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate how overtime work influenced workers' physical and mental health and the role of lifestyles, social support, and work value awareness. Data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016 (N = 14,205) was used. The instrumental variable approach was employed to overcome the endogeneity problem between overtime work and workers' health. The bootstrapping method was conducted to elicit the role of lifestyles, social support, and work value awareness. The results indicated that overtime work significantly and negatively influenced Chinese workers' physical and mental health. The results of the bootstrapping suggested that workers' social support and work value awareness partially mediated the relationship between overtime work and their physical and mental health. However, the mediating role of lifestyles was insignificant. Through using big data with national representativeness, this study suggests that overtime work negatively influences Chinese workers' physical and mental health. Our findings provide policy implications for improving workers' health rights and well-being in emerging economies.

Can provincial-pooling of urban and rural resident basic medical insurance improve the health performance of migrant population?

Enhancing the pooling level of medical insurance is an inevitable requirement to strengthen the mutual assistance capability of funds and achieving national health. In China, with the continuous expansion of the migrant population seeking medical treatment in other regions, the role of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance is becoming increasingly prominent. While there is limited research on the impact and mechanism of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance on the health of migrant population. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance on the health performance of migrant population and analyze the mediating role of social integration. Using data of three waves (2014, 2016 and 2018) of the China Labor force Dynamics Survey, this study focuses on a sample of migrant population enrolled in Urban and Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance and employs the estimation methods of time-varying difference-in-difference and mediating effect model. The results of time-varying difference-in-difference show that provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance improves the health performance of migrant population by 9.6% (p < 0.05), and the event study method and placebo test all indicate that the research results are robust. The mediating effect analysis demonstrates that the provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance enhances health performance by fostering the subjective and objective social integration, and neighbourhood assistance, social equity, life happiness and trust in the majority are specific intermediary channels. The results of heterogeneity analysis indicates that provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance is more effective in improving the health performance of high-income (β = −0.090; P < 0.05), new-generation (β = −0.116; P < 0.1) and highly-educated (β = 0.130; p < 0.05) migrant population. Our results call for accelerating the promotion of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance to improve health performance of migrant population.

A Study on the Impact of Overtime Work on the Well-being of Young Employees -- An Empirical Analysis Based on CLDS (2018) Data

This study first collects the current status of overtime labor and well-being among young employees through literature research, based on which three research hypotheses are proposed. Secondly, in terms of empirical research, relying on the database of the Chinese Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) in 2018, this paper constructs a linear regression model and a moderation effect model to investigate the impact of overtime labor on the well-being of young employees and the moderating role of job autonomy between the two. Finally, the research findings indicate that: firstly, overtime labor has a negative effect on the well-being of young employees; secondly, there is a significant positive relationship between job autonomy and well-being; thirdly, job autonomy mitigates the negative impact of overtime labor on the well-being of young employees. Therefore, this study aims to provide relevant policy suggestions from multiple aspects to enhance the well-being of workers, reduce the adverse effects of overtime labor on young employees, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, improve their working environment and quality of life, and ultimately achieve mutual benefit and win-win results for both employers and employees.

Being a householder speaking a foreign language: Foreign language proficiency and the internet technology adoption of the household

This study employs microdata from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey to investigate the influence of foreign language proficiency on the adoption of Internet technology within households. The results indicate that householders who are proficient in foreign languages are more likely to adopt Internet technology at home than those who lack such knowledge. The greater the foreign language proficiency of the householder, the greater the likelihood of Internet technology adoption. Further analyses indicate that the positive effect of foreign language proficiency on the Internet technology adoption of the household in China is more pronounced in male-headed households, in urban areas, and in eastern and central regions. This study also identifies three potential mechanisms by which foreign language proficiency influences household Internet technology adoption: the information effect, the trust effect, and the income effect. These findings contribute to the understanding of the role of language proficiency in technology adoption at the household level, offer new insights into the positive outcomes of foreign language education in China, and encourage measures to reduce digital inequality among households through language learning.

Examining Factors Affecting Labor Force Participation: Global Economic Analysis

Utilizing econometric modeling and data from thirty-three observations, the study investigates how important economic variables affect LFPR.GDP growth, the FDI ratio, inflation, and trade ratios are among the variables. The findings show a relationship between long-term fixed rate mortgages and foreign direct investment (FDI), but not between total lending. The effects of inflation and GDP growth are less evident. The study highlights the complexity of labor market behavior modeling while taking into account potential problems with econometric models, such as heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation. The results also significantly close knowledge gaps in the economic dynamics underlying labor force participation and provide policymakers with recommendations for improving the efficiency and inclusivity of the labor market. The analysis's conclusions show that all the various social, demographic, and economic factors that affect labor force dynamics must be taken into account when creating policy.

Quantifying biased technical progress in China: Heterogeneous human capital and labor force dynamics

The main objectives of this study are to estimate the biased technical progress in China considering heterogeneity in human capital and labor force, examine how this heterogeneity quantitatively impacts the elasticity of substitution and biased technical progress compared to homogeneous labor assumptions, and compare the growth rates of human capital-augmenting and labor-augmenting technical progress. The estimation procedure involves a constrained Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) using provincial-level panel data from 1985 to 2021. By comparing results with and without accounting for labor force heterogeneity and human capital, the analysis quantifies their impact on the estimated elasticity of substitution between factors and the magnitude and direction of technical bias. Results found that the elasticity of capital-labor (human capital) substitution is between 0.7 and 0.8, and the elements are generally complementary. Although it does not affect the overall trend of elasticity of substitution and biased technical progress, the heterogeneity of human capital and labor force has a quantitative impact on them. It means that the elasticity of substitution increased, and the biased technological progress decreased. Moreover, the growth rate of human capital-augmenting technical progress was significantly lower than that of labor-augmenting technological progress. This study estimates the biased technical progress in China, where the human capital and labor force are heterogeneous. The findings suggest that policymakers should prioritize human capital investments and technological upgrades in industries to rebalance China's technical progress and boost productivity growth.

Does digital infrastructure promote individual entrepreneurship? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment on the “Broadband China” strategy

Digital infrastructure construction provides new channels and a nurturing environment for individual entrepreneurship and is considered a significant factor in stimulating individual entrepreneurship. This study explored the impact of digital infrastructure construction on individual entrepreneurship and its mechanisms. The primary data used in this study were obtained from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS). The relevant data were analyzed using a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model. The results indicate that the construction of digital infrastructure can significantly promote individual entrepreneurship by enhancing imitation effects, improving optimistic expectations, and creating flexible work arrangements. Moreover, its promoting effect is more pronounced among individuals with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), females, and low-income families. The study's results reveal the connection between digital infrastructure construction and entrepreneurship, providing policy recommendations and insights to help government departments achieve goals such as digitalization and common prosperity. This study also contributes to the Chinese experience in the global analysis of entrepreneurship.

Impacts of alcohol consumption on farmers’ mental health: Insights from rural China

The global mental health crisis presents a significant challenge to sustainable development, and this crisis is more pronounced in China's rural areas versus urban areas. Alcohol consumption has increased in rural areas with China's economic growth, but the number of studies on the relationship between farmers' alcohol consumption and their mental health is limited. Based on data from the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study uses the endogenous switching regression model (ESR) to analyze the influence of alcohol consumption on farmers' mental health. On this basis, the study further conducts a counterfactual analysis to estimate the average treatment effect of alcohol consumption on farmers' mental health. The results show that: (1) There is a significant positive relationship between alcohol consumption and farmers' mental health. Specifically, the mental health index of drinking farmers increases by 19.7 % compared to non-drinking farmers. (2) Heterogeneity analysis shows that alcohol consumption is more beneficial for improving the mental health of male farmers, elderly farmers, and employed farmers. Furthermore, drinking alcohol almost every day, consuming Baijiu, and each drinking consumption ranging from 0 to 100 mL per occasion are more conducive to improving farmers' mental health. These findings have implications for relieving depressive symptomology and improving farmers' mental health in developing countries. The results of this study also provide guidance for addressing the global mental health crisis.

Family and job microsystems as mediators between social integration and depression among rural-to-urban migrant workers in China: does having sons make a difference?

Rural-to-urban migrant workers are a vulnerable group at risk of developing depression. Based on the social-ecological systems theory, this study investigates the impact of the lack of social integration on depression, considering the mediating roles of migrant workers' microsystems (family happiness and job burnout). Additionally, the study explores whether having sons influences these associations. The sample of 4,618 rural-to-urban migrant workers was obtained from the 2018 wave of the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS). All the measures in the survey exhibited good reliability, including the Center for Epidemiological Research Depression Scale (CES-D), family happiness, job burnout, and social integration. The data were primarily analyzed using a structural equation model. Social integration had a direct impact on depression among migrant workers. Additionally, it indirectly affected depression through the mediating roles of family happiness not job burnout. The moderating effect of having sons mainly occurred on the path from social integration to family happiness. The cross-sectional design impeded the ability to draw causal inferences. This finding highlights the potential benefits of social integration and family happiness in promoting early prevention of depression among migrant workers. It indicates that the inclination toward having sons among migrant workers continues to impact their mental health.

Gospel or curse: the impact of religious beliefs on energy poverty in rural China

Energy poverty, especially in rural areas, has become a central focus of scholarly and policy discussions. However, there is a significant gap in understanding the impact of religious beliefs on this phenomenon. This paper aims to fill this gap by utilizing household survey data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) spanning three waves (2012, 2014, and 2016) to examine the causal link between religious beliefs and energy poverty, covering clean energy accessibility and affordability among rural residents. Our analysis unveils a substantial positive influence of religious beliefs on the likelihood of experiencing energy poverty, especially concerning accessibility and affordability. This effect is notably pronounced among males, ethnic minorities, and low-income groups. Low income and education are recognized as pivotal mediating factors through which religious beliefs contribute to energy poverty. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for formulating strategies to mitigate energy poverty in rural China, with a particular emphasis on the role of religious beliefs.

Entrepreneurial failure influences the health of Chinese farmers: Evidence from the data of China labor-force dynamic survey

High failure rate is a primary characteristic of current farmer entrepreneurial activities in China. We examined the impact of entrepreneurial failure on the health of Chinese farmers based on the data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS). We found that entrepreneurial failure significantly depresses the health of Chinese farmers. Specifically, the farmers with entrepreneurial failure experience are more likely to have low self-reported levels of psychological and physical health, and the probability of experiencing severe injury and illness is elevated by 4.6 %. Mechanism analysis shows that entrepreneurial failure depresses the health of Chinese farmers through weakening informal social support and increasing the probability of overwork. Furthermore, these effects are more significant in the older generation of farmers who were born before 1980 and the farmers striving to make a living.

LABOUR MARKET IN UKRAINE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A YEAR OF FULL-SCALE WAR

The main purpose of this research article is a comprehensive study of the transformational impact of a full-scale war on the labour market, with a special focus on the challenges posed by labour force dynamics in the context of the Ukrainian economy. Through rigorous analysis and empirical research, the paper aims to identify and highlight the multifaceted changes that occur in the labour market during conflict, shedding light on the complex relationship between war-induced factors and the composition of the labour force. By examining these dynamics, the paper aims to make a valuable contribution to policy and strategic decision-making aimed at mitigating the negative effects of war on the labour market, which will ultimately contribute to sustainable economic recovery and development after the conflict ends. Methodology. This research article uses secondary analysis of data from the State Employment Service, as well as the results of surveys conducted by sociological groups and consulting companies. The practical implementation of the conclusions outlined in this article involves the formulation of targeted recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of state policy on the labour market in Ukraine, in particular, with a focus on the restoration of human resources in the post-conflict period. Drawing on the findings of a comprehensive analysis of war-induced labour market changes, these practical recommendations aim to offer actionable strategies for policy makers and stakeholders. Emphasising the need for rapid and adaptive interventions, the authors call for evidence-based decision-making to address the identified challenges. The practical implementation of these recommendations aims to guide the development and implementation of policies that will not only mitigate the immediate impact of the war on the labour market, but also contribute to the long-term sustainability and stability of the Ukrainian labour force. Value/Originality. Current trends in the labour market are analysed. The main threats to the labour market of Ukraine and the impact on the supply and demand of labour under martial law are identified. The author proposes to regulate the professional and qualification imbalance in the labour market through the system of advanced training or retraining of employees seeking employment in a profession in demand in the economy; spreading new forms of employment and supporting self-employment; investing in the creation of new jobs with decent conditions and remuneration.