From rural to urban: Clan, urbanization and trust

Na Chen and Huan Yang

China Economic Review, 2024, vol. 85, issue C

Abstract: This study explores the persistence and transformation of culture amidst a critical economic process in China today, known as urbanization. Based on the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), we find that the clan, a central mechanism used to sustain cooperation in China's rural society, continues to impact trust traits amidst the ongoing urbanization process. Respondents from regions with a history of high clan density report higher levels of limited trust toward families, lower levels of generalized trust toward strangers, and a significant trust gap between these two. Nevertheless, the urbanization process is gradually mitigating the effect of clans on trust traits by driving the population from villages, providing public services to citizens, and promoting cooperation among strangers.

Keywords: Clan; Urbanization; Trust; Cultural persistence; Cultural transformation; Social capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N95 O18 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:chieco:v:85:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24000610

DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102172

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