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When education policy drives migration: The impact of reform allowing migrants to take the local “Gaokao” on children’s migration

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  • Wang, Susu
  • Yu, Xinfan
  • Wei, Zhixing
  • Liang, Chao

Abstract

Will higher education opportunities drive people's migration behavior? Exploiting the staggered implementation of the hukou-based exam access reform, we employ a difference-in-differences strategy to estimate its effects on children migration. Based on data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey and 2015 Micro-Census, the study finds that permitting migrant children to take the Gaokao in destination regions promotes children migration and significantly reduces the likelihood of children being left behind. Higher college admission rates in destination regions attract more children to migrate, while higher admission rates in origin regions deter their migration. The education-driven migration pattern highlights the need for portable education voucher systems to mitigate hukou-based discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Susu & Yu, Xinfan & Wei, Zhixing & Liang, Chao, 2025. "When education policy drives migration: The impact of reform allowing migrants to take the local “Gaokao” on children’s migration," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:100:y:2025:i:c:s1049007825001198
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2025.101995
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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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