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The Long‐Term Consequences of Cultural Distance on Migration: Historical Evidence from China |
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| Authors: | Nan Li |
| Affiliation: | Shanghai University of Finance and EconomicsWe are grateful for comments from James Kung, Debin Ma, Ying Bai, Chicheng Ma, and seminar participants at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Shandong University. We also acknowledge for financial supported by the Pujiang Plan of Shanghai under Grant no. 14PJC042. |
| Abstract: | This paper uses a unique dataset of long‐run migration in China to provide new measures of cultural distance based on biological evidence. We utilise this information to examine the effect of cultural distance on migration in China from the Song Dynasty until the twentieth century. Our findings show that culture has strong effects on migration between regions when controlling for other socio‐economic and geographical factors. Population flow is greater where there are fewer cultural differences. This finding not only provides quantitative empirical evidence on linking cultural distance and migration but also leads to a better understanding of the mechanisms resulting in migration for much of China's history. |
| Keywords: | cultural difference cultural trait migration |
