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Mother's education and child development: Evidence from the compulsory school reform in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Cui

    (School of Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, China
    China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China)

  • Hong Liu

    (China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China)

  • Liqiu Zhao

    (School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, China)

Abstract

This paper investigates the causal impact of mother's schooling on various outcomes of adoles- cent development by exploiting the temporal and geographical variations in the enforcement of compulsory schooling laws in China. Using data from China Family Panel Studies, we find that mother's education increases adolescents' school enrollment, math test scores, college aspiration, and internal locus of control related to education. Mother's education also improves adolescent mental health status and reduces the incidence of underweight. We also find considerable gender heterogeneity in the effects of mother's education. The results further indicate that mother's education leads to an increase in family resources for children and an improvement in maternal mental health and parenting, which we interpret as potential mechanisms behind our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Cui & Hong Liu & Liqiu Zhao, 2025. "Mother's education and child development: Evidence from the compulsory school reform in China," CEMA Working Papers 783, China Economics and Management Academy, Central University of Finance and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:wpaper:783
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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