Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/89893 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 7727
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper examines how left-behind children influence return migration in China. We first present a simple illustrative model based on Dustmann (2003) that incorporates economic and non-economic motives for migration duration (or intentions to return), among which are parents' concerns about the well-being of their left-behind children. We then propose two complementary empirical tests based on data we collected from rural households in Wuwei county (Anhui province) in fall 2008. We first use a discrete-time proportional hazard model to estimate the determinants of migration duration for both on-going migrants with an incomplete length of duration and return migrants with a complete length of duration. Second, we apply a binary Probit model to study the return intentions of on-going migrants. Both models yield consistent results regarding the role of left-behind children as a significant motive for return. First, left-behind children are found to draw their parents back to the village, the effect being stronger for pre-school children. Second, sons are found to play a more important role than daughters in reducing migration duration.
Subjects: 
left-behind children
migration duration
return migration
discrete-time duration analysis
China
JEL: 
J61
J13
C41
C25
O53
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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