This study investigates the impact of internal migrant children on human capital investments among local households in urban China. Using a nationally representative survey and leveraging random student-classroom assignment in middle schools, the researchers find that a higher proportion of migrant children in a class positively correlates with increased educational spending by local families, particularly on out-of-school education. This effect is more pronounced among male students, ninth graders, and those from high socioeconomic status families. The mechanism analysis suggests this is driven by local parents overestimating their children's academic performance and harboring unfounded concerns about negative peer effects, rather than actual impacts on learning environment or academic achievement.
Publisher
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Published On
May 25, 2024
Authors
Xiaodong Zheng, Yanran Zhou
Tags
internal migration
educational investment
urban China
migrant children
local households
educational spending
socioeconomic status
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