Decoding birth intervals for educational attainment in sibling sequences: evidence from nationally representative surveys in China

Leveraging data from three nationally representative surveys in China ( N = 99,352), we investigate how birth intervals shape educational attainment. Utilizing a family fixed-effect model to minimize confounding factors, our findings illuminate a distinctive pattern: the birth interval preceding the index person correlates with enhanced educational attainment; the impact of the preceding birth interval is more pronounced for families with more than three children; but surprisingly, the birth interval following the index person shows no substantive impact on educational attainment. These robust results, supported by various validation methods and controls, not only contribute to the broader discourse on birth intervals but also offer empirical insights crucial for informed family planning decisions in China.