Maternal earning capacity and educational investment: evidence from urban and rural China

Educational investment plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, particularly for low- and middle-income families. In China, traditional gender roles vary significantly between urban and rural areas, with patriarchal norms exerting stronger influence in rural regions, where mothers tend to have lower earning capacity. Against this backdrop, this article examines how maternal earning capacity affects educational investment in low- and middle-income households, with a particular focus on urban–rural differences. Empirical results show that maternal earning capacity has a significantly stronger positive effect on children’s educational investment in rural areas compared to urban areas. Moreover, this effect varies across educational stages, gender and the type of investment (in-school vs. out-of-school). Maternal care pattern and educational expectations serve as important mediating mechanisms in this relationship. Based on these findings, the article recommends that the government prioritize initiatives to expand employment opportunities for rural women and enhance their income levels, thereby increasing educational investment in the next generation and contributing to long-term social development.