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Migration and Young Child Nutrition: Evidence from Rural China

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  • Mu, Ren

    (Texas A&M University)

  • de Brauw, Alan

    (International Food Policy Research Institute)

Abstract

The unprecedented large scale rural-to-urban migration in China has left many rural children living apart from their parents. In this study, we examine the impact of parental migration on the nutritional status of young children in rural areas. We use the interaction terms between wage growth in provincial capital cities and initial village migrant networks as instrumental variables to account for migration selection. Our results show that parental migration has no significant impact on the height of children, but it improves their weight. We provide suggestive evidence that the improvement in weight may be achieved through increased access to tap water in migrant households. Concerns about the sustainability of the impact on weight are raised in the conclusions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mu, Ren & de Brauw, Alan, 2013. "Migration and Young Child Nutrition: Evidence from Rural China," IZA Discussion Papers 7466, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7466
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    migration; children; nutrition; rural China; child nutrition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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