Uncovering Son Preference Cultures from Migrants under Endogenous Destination Selection

Kai Liu, Xiangqing Liu, Anwen Zhang and Zhongliang Deng

No 1779, GLO Discussion Paper Series from Global Labor Organization (GLO)

Abstract: This paper examines the cultural component of son preference through rural-to-urban migration in China, using a large representative dataset covering migrants from all origins to all destinations. Employing a generalized Roy model with a control function approach, we show that conventional epidemiological-approach estimates overstate cultural persistence. Correcting for endogenous destination selection reduces the estimated effect of origin-specific son preference on migrants' fertility behavior by 57-71%. Differences among migrants in the same destination therefore reflect both cultural influences and non-random sorting. We further find that cultural persistence weakens in higher-income destinations but strengthens in areas with greater migrant concentration.

Keywords: Son preference; cultural persistence; endogenous migration; destination selection; fertility behavior; sex ratios; rural-to-urban migration; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 J61 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:glodps:1779

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