Labor Migration and Time Use Patterns of the Left-behind Children and Elderly in Rural China

SummaryThis analysis of the impact of internal migration on the time allocation patterns of the left-behind elderly and children in rural China, 1997–2006, contributes to the literature on changes in the well-being of the left-behind population. Based upon the China Health and Nutrition Survey, the multivariate analysis demonstrates that the migration of household members increases the time spent on farm work and domestic work by the left-behind elderly and children. Migration has a striking gender differentiated impact, with the increase in work time being greater for elderly women and girls than elderly men and boys.