Based on the One-percent Population Survey in China in 2005 (NPS05), we study the differences between only children and non-only children in their choice of labor migration, which can be decomposed into a departure choice from the rural areas at the upper level and a destination choice of interprovincial migration at the lower level. Results from the departure model show that the likelihood of migration is in general not so much different between only- and non-only children. Except in the western regions, female only children are much less likely to make labor migration than their non-only counterparts. Odds-ratio from the destination choice model show that only children in less developed regions are much less likely to make interprovincial migration than do non-only children, indicatin...[ Read more ]

Based on the One-percent Population Survey in China in 2005 (NPS05), we study the differences between only children and non-only children in their choice of labor migration, which can be decomposed into a departure choice from the rural areas at the upper level and a destination choice of interprovincial migration at the lower level. Results from the departure model show that the likelihood of migration is in general not so much different between only- and non-only children. Except in the western regions, female only children are much less likely to make labor migration than their non-only counterparts. Odds-ratio from the destination choice model show that only children in less developed regions are much less likely to make interprovincial migration than do non-only children, indicating that the destination choice of only children are much more confined within the province. With a growing share of only children in the rural areas entering into labor markets, our findings help explain the emerging labor shortage in the affluent coastal regions, whose development relies much on labor migration from the less developed regions. The policy implications of the finding are twofold: (1) relaxation of the one-child policy and (2) the training and settlement of labor migrants can help to alleviate the labor shortage.