Early Childhood Development and Social Mobility in China

doi:10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2023.10.005

Abstract

Abstract:

The process and mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic status have been an enduring topic in social science research. Recently, attention has gradually shifted to the early stages of the life course. Infancy and early childhood are critical stages for the development of cognitive and socioemotional skills, which are predictive of subsequent academic success, employment outcomes, and ultimately, socioeconomic achievement. While early childhood investment can yield substantial returns to human capital, it can also exacerbate economic inequality. Empirical research, both domestically and internationally, have revealed that nurturing quality is increasingly divergent among social classes, leading to intergenerational accumulation of advantage/disadvantage, declining social mobility, and class differentiation. This article systematically reviews relevant theories and empirical research in China and provides a preliminary findings of early childhood education investment in Chinese families using the data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Specifically, the article focuses on the differences in early childhood education investment and child development among families of different socio-economic statuses and discusses the potential impact of these differences on children’s future development. The article concludes with a comprehensive analytical framework for the study of early childhood development and social mobility to gain scientific evidence to promote human capital investment and advance social mobility through practices and policies.

Key words: child development, parenting, human capital investment, life course, social mobility

Xiaogang Wu, Xin Li. Early Childhood Development and Social Mobility in China[J]. Journal of East China Normal University(Educational Sciences), 2023, 41(10): 53-65.

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育儿行为		母亲是主要照管人（%）	见父母频率（次/周）	父母关心孩子教育，与孩子沟通程度（1—5）	亲子互动频率（阅读、买书、游玩）（0—5）
所在地类型	农村	59.45	2.87	3.31	1.44
所在地类型	城市	55.43	5.28	3.62	2.54
收入层次	低收入	63.49	2.73	3.23	1.30
	中等收入	60.9	3.69	3.42	1.78
	高收入	47.75	4.63	3.58	2.41
母亲受教育程度	小学及以下	64.31	3.06	3.24	1.23
	中学	55.62	3.88	3.5	2.21
	大学	38.36	6.01	3.9	3.29
母亲就业状况	无业	80.85	4.89	3.56	2.36
母亲就业状况	就业	56.78	3.82	3.42	1.84

儿童发展		出生体重（斤）	语言能力（开始说完整句子的月份）	数学能力（开始能数1—10的月份）	自控力（3—6岁）
所在地类型	农村	6.38	20.49	34.96	0.45
所在地类型	城市	6.54	19.10	29.02	0.55
收入层次	低收入	6.28	21.05	36.28	0.46
	中等收入	6.46	19.88	32.54	0.48
	高收入	6.54	19.38	29.53	0.54
母亲受教育程度	小学及以下	6.34	20.77	36.32	0.46
	中学	6.50	19.51	30.67	0.50
	大学	6.55	18.35	25.47	0.59
母亲就业状况	无业	6.48	19.24	28.25	0.49
母亲就业状况	就业	6.44	20.00	32.65	0.49

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