Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/214883 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 498
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
This study examines the causal effects of welfare benefits on internal migration decisions. Using a quasi-experimental migration reform across 283 Chinese cities from 2002 to 2015, combined with a difference-in-differences setup, I show that improved welfare benefits substantially increase migration. The observed impact is more pronounced for individuals such as the young, women and medium-low-skilled workers. It is relatively smaller in destinations exposed to larger positive demand shocks, suggesting that improved welfare benefits reduce migration costs. And it persists over the long term. All these findings confirm the existence of sizable welfare magnet effects.
Subjects: 
Welfare Magnets
Internal Migration
China
Difference-in-differences
JEL: 
H31
J61
O15
F66
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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