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Influence of E-commerce on Birth Rate: Evidence from rural China based on county-level longitudinal data

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  • KOMATSU Sho
  • MA Xinxin
  • SUZUKI Aya

Abstract

Using official data from the Jiangsu region to construct county-level longitudinal samples and econometric models for the period from 2011 to 2019, we investigated the causal relationship between e-commerce development and regional birth rate in rural China. We used two indicators, the presence and number of Taobao villages in a county, to measure the development level of rural e-commerce. We find that e-commerce significantly reduces the crude birth rate (CBR) in most models, although this influence varies between groups. Furthermore, the negative effect of e-commerce is larger in regions with higher ratios of primary industry employment and smaller in well-developed regions. A U-shaped relationship exists between economic development level and CBR. Additionally, CBR is lower in counties with higher population densities and higher in counties with higher ratios of primary sector employment.

Suggested Citation

  • KOMATSU Sho & MA Xinxin & SUZUKI Aya, 2022. "Influence of E-commerce on Birth Rate: Evidence from rural China based on county-level longitudinal data," Discussion papers 22101, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    • Handle: RePEc:eti:dpaper:22101
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