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Child-trafficking networks of illegal adoption in China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhen Wang

    (Wuhan University)

  • Liyuan Wei

    (Wuhan University)

  • Sha Peng

    (Hubei University of Economics)

  • Liangchun Deng

    (Center for Environmental Progress)

  • Beibei Niu

    (Shandong Agricultural University)

Abstract

Child trafficking leads to family tragedies and social problems, and is a serious concern for social sustainability globally, particularly in China where tens of thousands of children are trafficked every year. Here, we used a new database and a set of network indicators to identify and target key cities and trafficking paths to help effectively break up child-trafficking networks in China. Special emphasis was placed on city-level networks. We observed that the majority of key cities were provincial capitals or located in Fujian province. Although the key paths were often between capitals and non-capitals, the top-ranked paths only controlled a small share of trafficking. Information dissemination and proactive crime fighting operations could reach over 80% of the network from just four of the selected cities. Based on our analysis, we propose new strategies for preventing illegal trafficking and adoption of children. This analytical strategy can also be useful to study other transferring activities of relevance for sustainability, such as the trafficking of adults, wildlife or waste.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhen Wang & Liyuan Wei & Sha Peng & Liangchun Deng & Beibei Niu, 2018. "Child-trafficking networks of illegal adoption in China," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(5), pages 254-260, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0065-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0065-5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bao, Xiaojia & Galiani, Sebastian & Li, Kai & Long, Cheryl Xiaoning, 2023. "Where have all the children gone? An empirical study of child abandonment and abduction in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 95-119.
    2. Dezheng Wang, 2023. "Joint liability and aggravation? An inspection of legislative and judicial practices in cases of the crime of the abduction, sale, and purchase of women and children in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Huang, Zhongliang & Weng, Wenguo, 2020. "Analysis of geographical migration networks of bride trafficking crime from 2000 to 2018 in China," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 550(C).
    4. Xueyao Ma & Gang Li & Junjun Zhou & Xing Gao & Qifan Nie & Shuyan Xue & Ling Liu & Jiaobei Wang & Tingting Xu & Annan Jin, 2020. "Family-to-family child migration network of informal adoption in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Mei Yang & Xinming Xia & Yi Zhou, 2023. "Abandoned children in China: the son-preference culture and the gender-differentiated impacts of the one-child policy," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.

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