Marriage, gender, and premiums from cadre parents

We investigate the impacts of the cadre status of biological parents on individuals' socioeconomic outcomes over time in China. We find that cadres' children experience an earnings/income premium during multiple periods, and that the magnitude of such premium increases in the early stage of children's career but decreases in the later stage of life. Moreover, sons, rather than daughters, of cadres can continuously enjoy premiums on socioeconomic outcomes after marriage. Our results suggest that cadres can improve their children's economic status by expanding their children's network and persistently enhancing children's education and cadre status, and that the superior economic status of cadres' children may partially stems from their hard work and high work efficiency. Our results infer that the gender difference in cadre parent premiums cannot be fully explained by the motherhood penalty and the gender difference in family membership could be an important source of gender inequality.

Automated summary

This study investigates the long-term impacts of parents' cadre status on individuals' socioeconomic outcomes in China. The findings suggest that the children of cadres experience higher earnings/income levels in multiple periods, with the magnitude of this premium increasing in the early stages of their careers and decreasing later in life. Additionally, it is observed that sons, but not daughters, of cadres continue to enjoy socioeconomic advantages after marriage. These results indicate that cadres can improve their children's economic status through networking, enhancing education, and maintaining cadre status.