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A demographic factor as a determinant of migration: what is the effect of sibship size on migration decisions?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2019

Jianmei Zhao Open the ORCID record for Jianmei Zhao [Opens in a new window]  and
Hai Zhong
Jianmei Zhao*
Affiliation:
China Academy of Public Finance and Public Policy, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing 100081, China
Hai Zhong
Affiliation:
China Academy of Public Finance and Public Policy, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing 100081, China
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Developing countries often lack an adequate social security system, and elderly parents rely heavily on their children for support. Aging populations and low-fertility rates are an emerging trend in developing countries. In this paper, we examine the effects of sibship size on individuals' internal migration decisions in China. We find that the number of siblings has a positive effect on individual migration decisions, but this effect is non-linear and marginally increasing. Second, we find that having brothers has a more significant effect on migration decisions than having sisters. Finally, although of different magnitudes, the effects are persistent across genders, Hukou status, and education levels.

Keywords

Demographic factordeterminantsmigration decisionssibship size

JEL classification

O15: Human Resources • Human Development • Income Distribution • Migration J61: Geographic Labor Mobility • Immigrant Workers J10: General
Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Demographic Economics , Volume 85 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 321 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © Université catholique de Louvain 2019 

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