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Fertility responses to the relaxation of migration restrictions: Evidence from the Hukou reform in China

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  • Dong, Xiaoqi
  • Liang, Yinhe
  • Zhang, Jiawei

Abstract

This study examines the impact of a relaxation of internal migration restrictions on internal migrants' fertility in China. Exploiting the variation in the city-by-city rollout of the Hukou reform after 2014, we find that lifting barriers to local citizenship significantly increases fertility among unregistered migrants, and the positive effect mainly appears in second-child births. An investigation of potential mechanisms suggests that the Hukou reform is associated with improved access to public services, better integration into the host society, and a significant increase in intermarriages with locals.

Suggested Citation

  • Dong, Xiaoqi & Liang, Yinhe & Zhang, Jiawei, 2023. "Fertility responses to the relaxation of migration restrictions: Evidence from the Hukou reform in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:81:y:2023:i:c:s1043951x23001256
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2023.102040
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