Gender Differences of Multidimensional Child Poverty in China: Spatial-Temporal Variation and Influencing Factors

Children are the hope of the future, but they are also the most vulnerable to poverty. Gender differences in children have been a major concern in society, and research on gender differences in multidimensional child poverty and their causes has important theoretical value and practical significance for child poverty reduction. Based on spatio-temporal analysis, we selected five dimensions of nutrition, health, education, individual growth, living conditions and 16 corresponding evaluation indicators to construct an evaluation index system of multidimensional poverty among children in China. The multidimensional poverty index of Chinese boys and girls from 2010 to 2018 was measured using the Alkire-Foster (A-F)method. Additionally, the spatio-temporal variations of gender differences in multidimensional child poverty during the period was analyzed using spatial autocorrelation and other methods, and a binary logistic regression model was applied to explore the influencing factors of gender differences. The results reveal the following: 1) The multidimensional poverty index of Chinese children decreased year by year during the study period, and the gender gap tended to narrow, with the poverty level of boys being higher from 2010 to 2012, while that of girls exceeded that of boys after 2014. Moreover, the gender difference in child poverty is mainly reflected in nutrition and living conditions. In terms of the contribution rate of indicators, the gender difference in the contribution rate of weight indicators is the largest, followed by height, family companionship, and enrollment at an appropriate age. 2) The multidimensional poverty index of boys and girls reveals the spatial distribution characteristics of "East-Central-West" stepwise increase. Compared with boys, the spatial clustering effect of multidimensional poverty among girls is more obvious. In 2018, the regions with significant gender differences in multidimensional child poverty are mainly concentrated in the five provinces of Fujian, Hunan, Jilin, Shaanxi, and Hubei. Additionally, the overall situation of multidimensional poverty among girls is more serious. 3) Since 2010, the gender differences in multidimensional poverty among children in China's urban and rural areas have displayed a decreasing trend; the gender gap is generally higher among urban children than rural children. In 2018, the gender gap in poverty among urban children is very significant in the four provinces and cities of Fujian, Chongqing, Hunan, and Guizhou, while that among rural children is more serious in Heilongjiang and Shaanxi provinces. These six provinces exhibit more poverty among girls, indicating that this is a priority for future improvement. 4) Urban-rural attributes, parental marital status, household income, and the highest level of education among parents are important factors influencing the gender differences in multidimensional poverty among children. Among these, household income has a deeper impact on girls, while urban-rural attributes, parental marital status, and the highest level of education among parents have a more significant impact on boys.