Parental Education and Wages: Evidence from China

Yuanyuan Chen () and Shuaizhang Feng
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Yuanyuan Chen: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

No 4218, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using nationally representative data in China, we find substantial positive partial correlations of both parents' education with one's wage. In addition, returns to father's education are higher in more monopsonistic and less meritocratic labor markets, including non-coastal regions, the state-owned sector, and the early periods of the reform era. The opposite is, however, true with respect to mother's education. Overall, the empirical evidence is consistent with the story that father's education mainly indicates family connections useful for locating a better-paying first job, while mother's education primarily captures unmeasured ability.

Keywords: family connections; wages; parental education; unmeasured ability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J30 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 39 pages
Date: 2009-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-dev, nep-edu, nep-lab and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published - published in: Frontiers of Economics in China, 2011, 6 (4), 568-591

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Related works:
Journal Article: Parental Education and Wages: Evidence from China (2011)
Journal Article: Parental education and wages: Evidence from China (2011)
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