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The Trade-Off between Quantity and Quality in Family Fertility Decision: Evidence from China¡¯s Family Planning Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Shangao Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Xu Tian

    (College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yingheng Zhou

    (School of Economics, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China)

Abstract

Based on the Chinese General Social Survey 2006 and 2008 data, this paper assesses the influence of the family planning policy on the qualitative development of children using education attainment and individual income of only children versus children with siblings as parameters. Our results show the following: (1) only children are better-educated than their counterparts with siblings; (2) only children earn higher income in comparison to their counterparts with siblings; (3) the income and education gaps between girls with and without siblings are greater than those between boys; (4) the education gaps between only children and children with siblings are greater for those born in the 1970s, but the income difference between only children and children with siblings is only significant for those born in the 1980s; and (5) the income and education gaps between only children and children with siblings are higher in urban regions. Results indicate that families with only one child invest more resources in children¡¯s quality under the family planning policy, which is consistent with the ¡°quantity¨Cquality trade-off¡± theory proposed by Gary Becker.

Suggested Citation

  • Shangao Wang & Xu Tian & Yingheng Zhou, 2021. "The Trade-Off between Quantity and Quality in Family Fertility Decision: Evidence from China¡¯s Family Planning Policy," Frontiers of Economics in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities, Higher Education Press, vol. 16(1), pages 67-104, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:fec:journl:v:16:y:2021:i:1:p:67-104
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    File URL: http://journal.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/10.3868/s060-013-021-0004-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Wang & Luyao Liang & Jing Luo & Hui Li & Jing Tang, 2022. "Early Childhood Teachers’ Fertility Willingness under China’s ‘Third-Child’ Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    family planning policy; quantity¨Cquality trade-off; only child; child with siblings; education attainment; personal income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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