This paper studies the impact of a liquidity constraint shock on the job search behavior and outcomes among rural-to-urban migrant workers in China. A negative liquidity constraint shock significantly reduces job search duration and increases the job finding hazard rate for female migrant workers. A negative liquidity constraint shock also lowers the subsequent job match quality, including a lower hourly wage, longer working hours, a higher probability of on-the-job searches and lower quality in terms of subsidy. We find little effect on the job search process and post match quality for male migrant workers. From the policy perspective, we show evidence that rural medical insurance, namely, the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS), can actually ease the impact of a liquidity constraint shock for female migrant workers. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Job search duration Liquidity constraint shock On-the-job-searches Match quality Rural-to-urban migrants

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