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Gender differences in intergenerational effects of laid-off parents

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  • Fu, Wentao
  • Zhu, Feng
  • Cheng, Yao

Abstract

This paper evaluates the gender differences in intergenerational effects of laid-off parents on children’s adult outcomes. Using the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) over the period from 1991 to 2015, we construct the children’s lengths of exposure to fathers’/mothers’ layoffs from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) retrenchment starting in the 1990 s before they turn 18 years old. We find that, when experiencing fathers’ layoffs for a longer period, only girls suffer a significant reduction in education outcomes and are hence more likely to have manual occupations; when suffering mothers’ layoffs for a longer period, boys’ education levels increase, but this advantage does not reduce their probability of having manual occupations. Although the gender difference in children’s education persists in their occupations, girls do not underperform in adult earnings compared to boys with similar family backgrounds. Instead, for girls with manual occupations, fathers’ layoffs increase their gardening income.

Suggested Citation

  • Fu, Wentao & Zhu, Feng & Cheng, Yao, 2023. "Gender differences in intergenerational effects of laid-off parents," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecosys:v:47:y:2023:i:4:s0939362523000547
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecosys.2023.101120
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intergenerational effect; Parents’ layoffs; Gender difference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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