This paper examines the impact of labor migration on children’s education in rural China. Using cross-sectional national survey data from 2002, this study reveals the inconsistent outcomes of children’s schooling in primary school and junior high school levels. In particular, there are no significant disparities between left-behind children and other children enrolling in compulsory education. However, left-behind children are more likely to enter senior high school; on the other hand, non-left-behind children perform better at studying at the primary level.

This study also explores three mechanisms to explain how migration affects children’s education: with financial support, migrant families invest more in children’s education, and they are less likely to push adolescents int...[ Read more ]

This paper examines the impact of labor migration on children’s education in rural China. Using cross-sectional national survey data from 2002, this study reveals the inconsistent outcomes of children’s schooling in primary school and junior high school levels. In particular, there are no significant disparities between left-behind children and other children enrolling in compulsory education. However, left-behind children are more likely to enter senior high school; on the other hand, non-left-behind children perform better at studying at the primary level.

This study also explores three mechanisms to explain how migration affects children’s education: with financial support, migrant families invest more in children’s education, and they are less likely to push adolescents into the job market; however, the lesser involvement of parents with their children’s homework has adverse effects on academic performance at the primary education level. From the results, we can conclude that the economic support from migrants has significant positive effects on left-behind children in junior high school while their absence has negative effects on left-behind primary students.