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When Opportunity Knocks: China's Open Door Policy and Declining Educational Attainment

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  • Jiang, Xuan
  • Kennedy, Kendall
  • Zhong, Jiatong

Abstract

In 1978, China opened its door to the outside world. This study investigates how the Open Door Policy affected the educational choices of workers born 1960–1970. Using measures of local labor markets’ export exposure, we find the Open Door Policy decreased educational attainment; youths born from 1965 to 70 facing the mean export exposure were 5.6–13.3 p.p. less likely to complete high school than those born in 1960. Our findings suggest a complicated relationship between Chinese human capital accumulation and economic growth during the industrialization of the 1980s and 1990s, as the Open Door Policy reduced skilled labor in the most export-exposed regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Xuan & Kennedy, Kendall & Zhong, Jiatong, 2023. "When Opportunity Knocks: China's Open Door Policy and Declining Educational Attainment," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:81:y:2023:i:c:s0927537122002020
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102312
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    2. Xuan Jiang, 2020. "Family Planning And Women'S Educational Attainment: Evidence From The One‐Child Policy," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 38(3), pages 530-545, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Open door policy; Educational attainment; High school completion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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