How digital technologies reshape traditional governance: clan networks and family migration in China

This study investigates the impact of local clan networks at migration destinations on migrant settlement patterns and the role of digital technologies in this process. The results indicate that destinations with strong clan influence tend to discourage family migration, a finding supported by robustness checks. Moreover, this effect is observed primarily among migrant families who have resided in the destination for more than three years and those located in small- and medium-sized cities. Further analysis of the underlying mechanisms reveals that clan effects operate primarily by shaping social identity. Meanwhile, the diffusion of digital technology weakens the inhibitory effect of local clan networks on family migration, underscoring the moderating role of technological advancement in reshaping the influence of traditional informal institutions on migrant settlement decisions.