Does public pension impact migrant workers’ nutrition: evidence from urban pension insurance in China

ABSTRACT: Based on the data of “employment and food demand of urban migrant workers”, this paper empirically analyzed the impact of urban pension insurance on the nutritional intake structure of migrant workers. The results showed that participating in urban pension insurance can change the nutritional intake structure of migrant workers. Additionally, fat and protein replace carbohydrate as the main nutrition sources for migrant workers. After controlling the income and labor intensity of migrant workers and other factors, urban pension insurance has a positive effect on the intake of fat and protein of migrant workers for they increase by 13.5% and 8.8% respectively. There is no significant effect on the intake of carbohydrates of migrant workers. The calorie intake of migrant workers increases by 6.8% accounting for the change of nutritional intake structure. Endogenous and robustness tests showed that the above conclusions are robust. Heterogeneity analysis showed that there is no significant difference in the effect of urban pension insurance on calorie intake of migrant workers in different income levels and age groups.

摘要：本研究基于「城镇农民工就业与粮食需求」数据集，实证分析了城镇养老保险（urban pension insurance）对农民工营养摄入结构的影响。研究结果显示，参加城镇养老保险可改变农民工的营养摄入结构。此外，脂肪与蛋白质取代碳水化合物，成为农民工的主要营养来源。在控制农民工收入、劳动强度及其他混杂因素后，城镇养老保险对农民工的脂肪与蛋白质摄入具有正向影响，二者摄入量分别提升13.5%与8.8%；而对碳水化合物摄入量无显著影响。受营养摄入结构变化的影响，农民工的热量摄入提升6.8%。内生性检验与稳健性检验结果表明，上述结论具备稳健性。异质性分析显示，城镇养老保险对不同收入层级与年龄组农民工的热量摄入影响不存在显著差异。