Research on the Influence of Informal Employment on Residents’ Happiness in China: Empirical Analysis Based on CLDS Data

Guangyan Chen, Feng Qiu, Xiaowen Dai, Hongxing Lan and Jiahao Song
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Guangyan Chen: Sichuan Rural Development Research Center, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Feng Qiu: Western Rural Revitalization Research Center, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Xiaowen Dai: Sichuan Rural Development Research Center, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Hongxing Lan: Sichuan Rural Development Research Center, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Jiahao Song: Sichuan Rural Development Research Center, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: The influence of informal employment on residents’ happiness has gained wide attention around the world. However, few studies focus on this topic in China. Using the 2016 wave of the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) data, we examined the effect of informal employment and its mechanisms on residents’ happiness in China. Our study shows there is a significant negative correlation between informal employment and residents’ happiness in China. Moreover, the correlation between informal employment and residents’ happiness is stronger for residents who are female, migrating, and with a rural household registration. In addition, we investigated possible mechanisms of the effect, including individual income, social respect, unemployment expectations, and social security, and found that informal employment reduces the happiness of residents by widening the gap in unemployment probability and social insurance level among residents.

Keywords: informal employment; residents’ happiness; labor market; employment discrimination; impact mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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