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Restricting video games in China: Effects on time use, educational achievement, and health

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  • Wang, Zhejian

Abstract

In 2021, the Chinese government introduced a highly restrictive policy that sharply limited minors’ access to online video games, eliminating play from Monday through Thursday and allowing only one hour per day on Fridays, weekends, and statutory holidays. Using nationally representative survey data and a difference-in-differences design, I find that the policy sharply reduced minors’ gaming engagement and overall Internet use, reflecting substantial but incomplete compliance. However, these behavioral changes did not produce detectable short-run improvements in academic performance, nor clear evidence of an increase in study time. The health-related evidence is more limited, with no clear physical-health gains and suggestive indications of reduced mental well-being. Complementary evidence from city-level administrative data and a regression kink design likewise shows no robust effects on exam outcomes, suggesting that while the 2021 ban effectively curtailed online activity, its downstream benefits for learning were not realized.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Zhejian, 2026. "Restricting video games in China: Effects on time use, educational achievement, and health," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:182:y:2026:i:c:s0304387826000957
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2026.103812
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