Three Essays in Labor Economics

Abstract

This thesis consists of three essays in labor economics. The first chapter examines the telecommunications externality on migration. By using regional and time variations in the installation of landline phones, this paper shows that the access to landline phones increases the ratio of out-migrant workers in China. The second chapter investigates whether a difficult environment in early life shape people's core beliefs and values. Using a discontinuity that resulted from the implementation of send-down movement, rusticated individuals are found to value family and relationships more highly, be less likely to believe in luck, and support social equality more strongly. The last chapter exploits the effect of adolescent environment on long-run health outcomes. By using variation in the living conditions experienced by rusticated youths, this paper finds that individuals who were forced to live and work a disadvantaged environment were more likely to develop chronic diseases and mental problems.