Mothers’ non-farm work, women’s empowerment and multidimensional child poverty: evidence from rural China

Purpose The objective of this study is to analyze whether rural mothers who participated in non-farm work (PNFW) can lift their children out of multidimensional poverty by enhancing women’s empowerment in the context of China. Design/methodology/approach This study uses nationally representative data, the rural sample of China Family Panel Studies 2018–2020, which includes specific children’s questionnaires. The AF method is used to measure multidimensional poverty among children aged 3–15 years. Local rainfall shock is employed as an instrumental variable (IV) for women’s PNFW choice and IV estimation is performed. Findings (1) Rural mothers’ PNFW significantly alleviates their children’s poverty and reduces deprivation in multiple dimensions, especially in education and living conditions. Compared to mothers who stay in farm work, children with mothers who participate in non-farm work are less likely to be deprived of multidimensional poverty. (2) Improved women’s empowerment is the mechanism by which the rural mothers’ PNFW lift their children out of poverty. Rural mothers who have a non-farm job have higher intrahousehold bargaining power and self-esteem, probably favoring children in family resource allocation and providing better parenting, thus reducing the deprivation of their children. Originality/value Unlike existing research that focuses on increased income and decreased companionship for children, this study provides novel evidence that engaging in non-farm work can empower rural mothers, reducing their children’s multidimensional poverty.