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Family migration and structural transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Huoqing Cao
  • Chaoran Chen
  • Xican Xi
  • Sharon Xuejing Zuo

Abstract

This paper integrates the migration decisions of married couples into a multi‐sector spatial model, investigating their impact on structural transformation, productivity and gender wage gap. Focusing on China, a country characterized by a higher share of agricultural employment and a lower share in services compared with countries with similar income, we uncover a significant gender gap in migration costs among rural married couples. Furthermore, while migration costs have decreased for all demographic groups from 2000 to 2010, the decline was least pronounced for married couples when both partners left agriculture. We find that reducing migration costs for married couples who migrate together would lead to a decline in agricultural employment, a rise in service sector employment, an increase in aggregate productivity and a narrowing of the gender wage gap. Eliminating the gender differences in migration costs would also increase service sector employment and reduce the gender wage gap. Migration familiale et transformation structurelle Cet article intègre les décisions de migration des couples mariés dans un modèle spatial multisectoriel et étudie leur incidence sur la transformation structurelle, la productivité et l'écart de rémunération entre les sexes. En nous concentrant sur la Chine, un pays caractérisé par une part plus importante d'emplois agricoles et une part plus faible d'emplois dans les services par rapport à des pays où le revenu est semblable, nous découvrons un écart significatif entre les sexes en matière de coûts de migration parmi les couples ruraux mariés. En outre, si les coûts de migration ont diminué pour tous les groupes démographiques entre 2000 et 2010, la baisse a été moins prononcée pour les couples mariés lorsque les deux partenaires ont quitté l'agriculture. Nous constatons que la réduction des coûts de migration pour les couples mariés qui émigrent ensemble entraînerait une baisse de l'emploi agricole, une hausse de l'emploi dans le secteur des services, une augmentation de la productivité globale et une réduction de l'écart de rémunération entre les sexes. L'élimination des différences de coûts de migration entre les hommes et les femmes augmenterait également l'emploi dans le secteur des services et réduirait l'écart de rémunération entre les sexes.

Suggested Citation

  • Huoqing Cao & Chaoran Chen & Xican Xi & Sharon Xuejing Zuo, 2024. "Family migration and structural transformation," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 57(3), pages 753-776, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:57:y:2024:i:3:p:753-776
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12725
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cao, Huoqing & Chen, Chaoran & Xi, Xican, 2024. "Home Production and Gender Gap in Structural Change," MPRA Paper 122334, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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