Compensation or reproduction? The implications of online learning for socio-economic equalisation in urban China

This study explores the implications of promoting online learning for equalisation, focusing on urban China where online learning is promoted to alleviate socio-economic gaps between rural migrants and urban residents. To achieve equalisation, online learning should benefit disadvantaged individuals as least as much as, if not more than, the advantaged counterparts, as greater returns for the advantaged can reproduce pre-existing inequalities. This study examines the interaction effect between hukou (household registration) origin and daily online learning on occupational mobility and income growth, using data from the China Family Panel Studies. Findings reveal modest economic returns to online learning. While not found to benefit urban residents more, the most ideal scenario for equalisation, greater online learning benefits for rural migrants, is limited, except for the increased downward occupational mobility avoidance effect for rural origin women. These results underscore the deficiency of solely relying on online learning to challenge inequalities.