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Is There a Bright Side to the China Syndrome? Rising Export Opportunities and Life Satisfaction in China

Author

Listed:
  • Matthieu Crozet

    (RITM - Réseaux Innovation Territoires et Mondialisation - Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Laura Hering

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Sandra Poncet

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

Export growth affects individuals through numerous and contradictory channels. In China, the development of exports has promoted economic development and income growth, but it has also disrupted social structures and work environments. This paper explores the overall effect of exports on perceived well-being by combining responses from a large longitudinal survey covering over 45,000 Chinese with a shift-share measure of local export opportunities. Results show that individuals' perceived life satisfaction increases significantly in prefectures that benefited from greater export opportunities, despite a negative effect on self-reported health. The positive well-being gains go beyond a simple income effect. These non-monetary gains are related to the individuals' professional life: export-related well-being gains are stronger for working-age individuals (especially men and low-skilled workers), are largest for workers in the manufacturing sector (which produces the vast majority of China's exports), and are found when the satisfaction indicator focuses on work but not on other aspects of daily life.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthieu Crozet & Laura Hering & Sandra Poncet, 2024. "Is There a Bright Side to the China Syndrome? Rising Export Opportunities and Life Satisfaction in China," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) hal-04505684, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:pseptp:hal-04505684
    DOI: 10.1093/wber/lhae006
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04505684
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