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Does welfare stigma exist in China? Policy evaluation of the Minimum Living Security System on recipients’ psychological health and wellbeing

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  • Qi, Di
  • Wu, Yichao

Abstract

This paper analyzes the policy effects of China's largest social assistance program on the psychological health and wellbeing of the recipients by the regression discontinuity approach based on the 2014 China Family Panel Studies Survey (CFPS). By excluding other confounding factors and addressing the endogeneity problems, this paper shows that China's minimum living security system (MLSS) has produced significant welfare stigmatizing effects which have negatively influenced recipients' psychological health and wellbeing. The MLSS reduces recipients' self-satisfaction towards life, decreases the levels of happiness and self-confidence, and results in poorer interpersonal relationships and self-evaluations. It also increases the probabilities of feeling depressed, helpless and hopeless. The frequencies reporting having the difficulties of doing something are significantly higher among the MLSS recipients. Corresponding strategies and professional services are required for reducing the welfare stigmatizing effects on recipients' psychological health and wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi, Di & Wu, Yichao, 2018. "Does welfare stigma exist in China? Policy evaluation of the Minimum Living Security System on recipients’ psychological health and wellbeing," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 26-36.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:205:y:2018:i:c:p:26-36
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.03.041
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yang, Lawrence Hsin & Kleinman, Arthur & Link, Bruce G. & Phelan, Jo C. & Lee, Sing & Good, Byron, 2007. "Culture and stigma: Adding moral experience to stigma theory," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(7), pages 1524-1535, April.
    2. Moffitt, Robert, 1983. "An Economic Model of Welfare Stigma," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 73(5), pages 1023-1035, December.
    3. Stuber, Jennifer & Schlesinger, Mark, 2006. "Sources of stigma for means-tested government programs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 933-945, August.
    4. Jennifer Stuber & Karl Kronebusch, 2004. "Stigma and other determinants of participation in TANF and Medicaid," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(3), pages 509-530.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huo, Xuan & Gao, Qin & Zhai, Fuhua & Lin, Mingang, 2020. "Effects of welfare entry and exit on adolescent mental health: Evidence from panel data in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    2. Ta, Yuqi & Zhu, Yishan & Fu, Hongqiao, 2020. "Trends in access to health services, financial protection and satisfaction between 2010 and 2016: Has China achieved the goals of its health system reform?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    3. Pak, Tae-Young, 2021. "What are the effects of expanding social pension on health? Evidence from the Basic Pension in South Korea," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    4. Buting Hong & Ping Ren & Runtao Huang & Jiangtao Xiao & Quanzhi Yuan, 2023. "Research on Welfare Changes of Farmers with Different Livelihood Assets after Rural Residential Land Exit in the Context of “Tripartite Entitlement System”: A Case Study of Fuhong Town in Qingbaijiang," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Qiu Cheng & Kinglun Ngok, 2023. "Does the Dibao Program Improve Citizens’ Life Satisfaction in China? Perceptions of Pathways of Poverty Attribution and Income Inequality," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 975-995, April.
    6. Wang, Qiong & Mukhopadhaya, Pundarik & Ye, Jingyi, 2020. "An evaluation of the changes in wellbeing in China – 2005 to 2015: An exploratory study," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    7. Qiu Cheng & Kinglun Ngok, 2020. "Welfare Attitudes Towards Anti-poverty Policies in China: Economical Individualism, Social Collectivism and Institutional Differences," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 679-694, July.
    8. Kumar, Pankaj & Kumar, Parveen & Garg, Ramesh Kumar, 2021. "A study on farmers' satisfaction and happiness after the land sale for urban expansion in India," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).

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