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Research ArticleArticles

Longer Time for School: The 1981 Marriage Law and Rural Female Education in China

Lin Zhang
Published online before print July 12, 2024, 0822-12475R5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0822-12475R5
Lin Zhang
Lin Zhang is an associate professor of economics at Kindai University (Email: , ).
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Abstract

In 1981, China’s new Marriage Law raised the minimum marriage age from 18 to 20 for women and from 20 to 22 for men. This study examines the effect of this law amendment on rural women’s upper secondary education. Taking the new Marriage Law as a natural experiment, this study employs a regression probability jump and kink with difference-in-differences design, as well as a cohort difference-in-differences strategy. The results jointly suggest a significant improvement in rural women’s enrollment in upper secondary school, facilitated by the extended duration they can spend in school due to the new Marriage Law.

Keywords:
  • Marriage law
  • marriage age
  • female education
  • female development
JEL Codes:
  • J12
  • J16
  • J24
  • K36
  • I20

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Longer Time for School: The 1981 Marriage Law and Rural Female Education in China
Lin Zhang
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2024, 0822-12475R5; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0822-12475R5

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Longer Time for School: The 1981 Marriage Law and Rural Female Education in China
Lin Zhang
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2024, 0822-12475R5; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0822-12475R5
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Keywords

  • Marriage law
  • marriage age
  • female education
  • female development
  • J12
  • J16
  • J24
  • K36
  • I20
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