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Does being "left behind" in childhood lead to criminality in adulthood? Evidence from data on rural-urban migrants and prison inmates in China

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Cameron

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, the University of Melbourne)

  • Xin Meng

    (Research School of Economics, CBE, Australian National University)

  • Dandan Zhang

    (China Center for Economic Research, National School of Development, Peking University)

Abstract

Large scale rural-to-urban migration and China's household registration system have resulted in about 61 million children being left-behind in rural villages when their parents migrate to the cities. This paper uses survey and experimental data from male rural-urban migrants - prison inmates and comparable non-inmates - to examine whether parental absence in childhood as a result of migration is associated with increased criminality in adulthood. Control functions and sibling fixed effects are used to identify causal impacts. Parental absence due to migration is found to increase the propensity of adult males to commit crimes. Being left-behind decreases educational attainment and increases risk-loving behavior, both of which increase criminality.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Cameron & Xin Meng & Dandan Zhang, 2021. "Does being "left behind" in childhood lead to criminality in adulthood? Evidence from data on rural-urban migrants and prison inmates in China," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n22, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2021n22
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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