School Dropout, Ethnicity and Religion: Evidence from Western Rural China

This article studies the determinants of school dropout decisions for western rural China by using the original and unique survey of 6,000 families in western rural China. Special focus is given to the impact of religion on dropout decisions. We find that children from religious families are more likely to drop out of school than other children, especially for those practicing Tibetan Buddhism. In addition, we find that increase in a child’s age, being a boy, and being part of an ethnic minority will increase the dropout probability while an increase in the mother’s education will decrease the dropout probability. Family income and migration status do not have significant impact on the dropout decision in western rural China.