An independently authored paper, “Together or Apart? Migration, Education Access, and Intergenerational Mobility in China,” by Associate Professor DU Jingxuan from the Institute for Northeast Full Revitalization, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Development Economics.
This study constructs a quantitative spatial equilibrium model with overlapping generations to examine how education-access wedges under the hukou (household registration) system and child-arrangement costs jointly shape household welfare and intergenerational educational mobility in China. The model is estimated using population census and household survey data. Findings show that while the two child-targeted policies raise the co-migration rate to a similar extent, their welfare and mobility impacts differ sharply: subsidizing co-migrating families moving to high-cost destinations yields 1.4 times greater welfare gains per unit of government revenue than removing migrant children’s education-access wedges, though benefits are concentrated among recipients. In contrast, removing education-access wedges delivers mobility gains more than four times larger per unit of revenue, and the resulting human capital generates growing welfare gains across generations. A broader reform that equalizes public-service access for all migrants can deliver both high welfare efficiency and strong intergenerational mobility outcomes.
The Journal of Development Economics is an authoritative, world-leading journal in development economics. It features original research on frontier issues in the field, prioritizing work that balances theoretical rigor and policy relevance, and enjoys an outstanding reputation among international economists. This article further elevates the global academic profile of DUFE’s applied economics discipline, demonstrating the university’s robust research strengths in regional economics and balanced social development.
Written by: DU Jingxuan
Source: Institute for Northeast Full Revitalization
