Abstract:

Exploring the pathway to achieve poverty reduction through education is crucial in the post-poverty era. This study aims to investigate the impact and mechanisms of parental education on the relative poverty of their offspring from the perspective of group differences. The goal is to provide insights and theoretical guidance for poverty reduction through education in the new era. Based on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), an analysis of variables such as parental education, family size, and relative poverty in 1,143 paired households reveals the following results. First, both the educational level of fathers and mothers affect the relative poverty of their offspring and exhibit longitudinal stability. The higher the parental education level, the less likely their descendants are to fall into relative poverty. Second, looking at the longitudinal development trends, the educational level of fathers and mothers directly impacts the initial level of relative poverty. It then indirectly influences relative poverty rates through the initial level of family size. Third, the educational level of mothers directly affects the initial level of relative poverty and indirectly influences relative poverty rates through the initial level of family size. Last, higher levels of parental education enable better control over family size, reducing the likelihood of their children’s families falling into relative poverty. In summary, education has a significant intergenerational effect on poverty reduction. Efforts should be made to strengthen the long-term role of education in poverty governance in the post-poverty era.

Key words: parental education level, relative poverty, household size, changing trend.