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Effects of Social Network on Human Capital of Land-Lost Farmers: A Study in Zhejiang Province

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Abstract

Rapid urbanization in China has resulted in the inability of land-lost farmers, who are considered to lack sufficient human capital. Few studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of social network and land expropriation on the human capital of land-lost farmers. Therefore, effective improvement of land-lost farmers’ human capital remains unknown. To address this gap, this study investigates the effects of social network on the human capital of land-lost farmers and the moderating effects of land expropriation with the case of Zhejiang Province in China. Regression is used to examine the effects of social network, which is measured by network scale (NS), network intensity (NI), and mutual trust (MT), on human capital. Hierarchical regression is used to examine the moderating effects of land expropriation, which is measured by land location (LL) and settlement mode (SM). The study indicates that NS, NI, and MT have more positive effects on human capital under the moderating role of LL. However, only NS and NI have more positive effects, yet MT has insignificant effects on human capital under the moderating role of SM. The results indicate that land expropriation scenarios affect the relationship among social network and human capital to some extent. The findings can facilitate the local governments formulate appropriate policies that promote human capital among land-lost farmers through enhancing social network.

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Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was jointly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Nos.: 41371187; and 71503228) and Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China (Project No.: LQ16G030006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Administration, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Haijun Bao, Yingying Cen, Yi Peng & Jibin Xue

  2. School of Business Administration, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoting Zhu

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  1. Haijun Bao
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Correspondence to Yi Peng.

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Bao, H., Zhu, X., Cen, Y. et al. Effects of Social Network on Human Capital of Land-Lost Farmers: A Study in Zhejiang Province. Soc Indic Res 137, 167–187 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1592-6

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