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The Effect of Family Size on Education: New Evidence from China's One-Child Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Laura M. ARGYS

    (University of Colorado Denver and IZA)

  • Susan L. AVERETT

    (Lafayette College and IZA)

Abstract

Economists theorize that the inverse relationship between income and family size reflects a trade-off between child quality and quantity. Testing this hypothesis requires addressing the simultaneity of the quality and quantity decisions. The unanticipated birth of twins and sex composition of the first two children have been used as the exogenous variation in family size with mixed results. We exploit the One-Child Policy (OCP) in China, which exogenously reduced fertility, and examine how the OCP affected the education of Chinese migrants to the USA. Using the American Community Survey and a difference-in-differences strategy, we find higher levels of education for Chinese migrants born after the OCP compared with their counterparts from other East Asian countries. This finding provides additional support for the existence of a quality-quantity trade-off.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura M. ARGYS & Susan L. AVERETT, 2019. "The Effect of Family Size on Education: New Evidence from China's One-Child Policy," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 85(1), pages 21-42, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:85:y:2019:i:1:p:21-42
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2018.22
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiong, Feng & Zang, Leizhen & Zhou, Ling & Liu, Fei, 2020. "The effect of number of siblings and birth order on educational attainment: Empirical Evidence from Chinese General Social Survey," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Aeggarchat Sirisankanan, 2020. "Credit constraints and the trade‐off between family size and children's investment in Thailand," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 34(2), pages 133-151, November.
    3. Ea Hoppe Blaabæk & Mads Meier Jæger & Joseph Molitoris, 2020. "Family Size and Educational Attainment: Cousins, Contexts, and Compensation," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 36(3), pages 575-600, July.
    4. Kaat Van Hoyweghen & Janne Bemelmans & Hendrik Feyaerts & Goedele Van den Broeck & Miet Maertens, 2023. "Small Family, Happy Family? Fertility Preferences and the Quantity–Quality Trade-Off in Sub-Saharan Africa," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(6), pages 1-35, December.
    5. Chu, Yihe & Li, Yujia & Che, Ming, 2024. "Population aging and the dynamics of the skill income gap: An analysis of a multiple mediation effect," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    6. Lin, Siyuan & Argys, Laura M. & Averett, Susan L., 2023. "Exposure to the One-Child Policy and Fertility among Chinese Immigrants to the US," IZA Discussion Papers 16329, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Lu, Di, 2018. "China’s Selective Two-Child Policy and Its Impact on the Marriage Market," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181586, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    8. Siyuan Lin & Laura Argys & Susan Averett, 2025. "Exposure to the one-child policy and fertility among chinese immigrants to the US," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 969-1002, September.
    9. Chang, Liang & Liang, Xiaojun & Tan, Na & Liang, Shuting, 2024. "From restriction to relaxation: The impact of fertility policy on household savings across countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 2102-2129.
    10. Aeggarchat Sirisankanan, 2022. "The impact of family size on child investment in Thailand: Revisiting with an alternative approach," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 36(4), pages 411-431, December.
    11. Vu, Linh Hoang & Tran, Tuyen Quang, 2021. "Sibship composition, birth order and education: Evidence from Vietnam," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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