Agricultural Mechanization Socialized Services and Gender Disparities in Labor Reallocation: Insights From Rural China

Zisen Chen and Tonglong Zhang

Review of Development Economics, 2025, vol. 29, issue 3, 1416-1434

Abstract: Technological change in production processes can shape labor allocation differently for men and women. This study explores how Agricultural Mechanization Socialized Services (AMSS) influence agricultural and nonagricultural labor reallocation in Chinese rural households, focusing on gender disparities. Using data from China Family Panel Studies (2014–2022) and a Difference‐in‐Differences approach, AMSS adoption reduced male agricultural involvement by 4.4 percentage points, with only 2.3 points decreased for women. However, women were 4.2 points more likely to assume managerial roles in farming, indicating a shift in intra‐household labor responsibilities. For nonagricultural work, increases were nearly twice as high for men compared to women, reflecting persisting barriers that restrict women's access to better‐paying jobs. Age‐based subgroup analyses revealed that the pattern of “men to nonagricultural markets while women stay in agriculture” is most pronounced among those aged 40–49. Moreover, smaller land sizes, higher nonagricultural wages, and shorter distances to county towns amplify the labor shifts triggered by AMSS. While AMSS can promote more balanced farm responsibilities and enhance women's managerial authority, it fails to resolve underlying inequities in access to nonagricultural occupations. These insights underscore the need for supportive policies that address entrenched gender disparities and thereby help foster equitable labor reallocation.

Date: 2025
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