The Long-term Consequences of Ordeals:Evidence from the Chinese Sent-down Movement

摘要

The Chinese sent-down movement between the mid 1950s to the late 1970s is a suffering period for Chinese sent-down youths.Using the treatment effect model and the ordered probit model,we examine the impact of sent-down experience on sent-down youths’income and happiness based on the sample of CGSS2003 and CGSS2006.By doing so,we can explore the long-term consequences of one’s suffering experience.The overall sample regression results show that sent-down experience increase 42% of individuals’income,while reducing 13% of individuals’happiness.Sub-sample analysis results are robust to the conclusion that the sent-down experience makes a positive impact on income and a negative impact on happiness.This study provides objective evidence for the historical evaluation of sent-down movement,a new interpretation for the Easterlin paradox from the view of personality latitude,new empirical evidence for supporting the new human capital theory,and useful inspiration for the the current grass-roots employment policy for university graduates in China.