Regional disparity, cultural difference and family migration of rural migrant workers

Runze Gong, Weixing Wu and Lina Zhang

Journal of Asian Economics, 2025, vol. 100, issue C

Abstract: We investigate the impact of economic disparity and cultural difference between destination and origin areas on the family migration of rural migrant workers. Based on the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) data, our paper finds that economic disparity and cultural difference between the two regions have positive and negative impacts on the family migration of rural migrant workers, respectively. Specifically, economic disparity enhances the income and settlement intentions of rural migrant workers, whereas cultural difference reduces them. Our evidence suggests that the positive effect of the economic disparity on family-based migration is weaker in destinations with high hukou barriers and high housing prices. Conversely, the negative association between cultural difference and family migration of rural migrant workers is substantially weaker for migrants with greater social engagement and human capital.

Keywords: Rural migrant workers; Family migration; Cultural difference; Economic disparity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:asieco:v:100:y:2025:i:c:s104900782500154x

DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2025.102030

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