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Participation and Expenditure of Rural-Urban Migrants in the Illegal Lottery in China

Author

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  • Zhiming Cheng
  • Russell Smyth
  • Gong Sun

Abstract

Using a unique dataset from the Pearl River Delta in China we examine the factors associated with rural-urban migrants’ participation in, and expenditure on, illegal gambling. We find that similar demographic and lifestyle characteristics are associated with participation in, and expenditure on, the illegal lottery. The characteristics which have the largest marginal effects on participation and expenditure are gender, whether one also participates in the legal lottery and playing mah-jong and other card games. The amount of a normal sized bet placed by males is 30 per cent higher than that placed by females, based on the mean value of a normal bet. The corresponding figures for those who participate in the official lottery and those who play mah-jong or card games respectively are 48 per cent and 39 per cent higher. Policy implications and recommendations stemming from the major findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiming Cheng & Russell Smyth & Gong Sun, 2013. "Participation and Expenditure of Rural-Urban Migrants in the Illegal Lottery in China," Monash Economics Working Papers 24-13, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2013-24
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    File URL: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/eco/research/papers/2013/index.html
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhiming Cheng & Vinod Mishra & Ingrid Nielsen & Russell Smyth & Ben Zhe Wang, 2017. "Wellbeing in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 1-10, May.

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    Keywords

    China; rural-urban migrant workers; illegal lottery;
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