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Does Migration Distance Affect Happiness? Evidence From Internal Migrants in China
Ge Zheng1, Dongliang Yang1,2, Jiawei Li1,3
1Department of Regional Economics, School of Northeast Asian, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
Frontiers in Public Health
|June 17, 2022
Summary
Longer migration distances in China negatively impact migrant happiness. Urban migrants are more affected than rural migrants, with social integration playing a key role.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Economics
Background:
- Happiness is a multifaceted concept influenced by societal, psychological, and ethical factors.
- Understanding the impact of migration distance on migrant happiness is crucial amidst evolving migration trends in China.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze how migration distance influences migrant happiness in China.
- To investigate the transmission mechanisms of this effect.
- To examine the differential impact on urban versus rural migrants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 129,803 observations from the 2012 China Migrants Dynamic Survey.
- Employed ordinal logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) for effect estimation.
- Analyzed transmission mechanisms using a mediating effect model.
Main Results:
- Migration distance significantly negatively impacts the happiness of internal migrants in China.
- Urban migrants exhibit a stronger negative response to migration distance compared to rural migrants.
- Social integration was identified as a key mediating mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Migration distance adversely affects internal migrant happiness and mental well-being.
- Enhancing social integration through cultural exchange and reducing urban-rural income disparities can improve migrant happiness.
- Promoting rational migration decisions is essential for migrant well-being.
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