Parental Unemployment and Child Health in China

Arbeitspapier

This paper studies the causal effect of maternal and paternal unemployment on child health in China, analyzing panel data for the period 1997-2004, when the country underwent economic reforms leading to massive layoffs. We find that paternal unemployment reduces child health, while maternal unemployment has beneficial child health impacts. Analysis of channels shows that paternal and maternal unemployment have different effects on income, time use, mothers' blood pressure, and certain health investments, including children's diets. Our results support the notion that traditional gender roles can explain why mothers and fathers' unemployment affect child health so differently.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 10021

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health Behavior ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies: Other ; Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
• Subject: child health ; unemployment ; nutrition ; China

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Pieters, Janneke ; Rawlings, Samantha
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2016

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/145155
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET