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Does “son preference” affect rural floating parents’ willingness to settle in towns and cities?

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  • Hu, Yun-Zhi
  • Xuan, Ye
  • Wang, Hai-Feng

Abstract

Urbanization in China has accelerated since its reform and opening policy in 1978. The driving forces of the movement from rural areas to cities in current literature include job opportunities, family income, housing conditions, and city size. It remains an open question whether son preference, one of the oldest issues in Chinese culture, impacts rural floating parents' willingness to settle in urban areas. This study examines this question using the 2017 China Migration Dynamic Monitoring Survey (CMDS) data. We find that parents' decisions to provide their sons with better education, help their sons buy houses, and raise their sons to care for them in old age are important channels to enhance parents’ willingness to settle in urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Yun-Zhi & Xuan, Ye & Wang, Hai-Feng, 2024. "Does “son preference” affect rural floating parents’ willingness to settle in towns and cities?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 485-510.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:89:y:2024:i:pb:p:485-510
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2023.10.043
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Son preference; Rural floating population; Urbanization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General

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