Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study examines the impact of art education on Chinese citizens’ trust in Americans. We find that participation in art tutorials correlates with increased trust towards Americans, with the level of trust rising with time spent in art education. Further analysis indicates that this effect is more pronounced in males and individuals whose parents already hold positive views of Americans. These results highlight the role of art education in fostering intercultural understanding. The study contributes to the literature on trust formation and the effects of art education, underscoring the significance of cultural engagement in promoting cross-cultural trust in global relations.

This study examines how overconfidence shapes individuals' preference for redistribution. We contend that overconfidence inflates individuals' income expectations, which reduces the perceived benefits of redistribution for these individuals and thereby weakens their preference for such policies. Using data from the 2014 China Family Panel Studies, we find that overconfident individuals are more confident in their future life and exhibit less concerns for economic inequality, healthcare, and social security issues—key proxies for preference for redistribution. These results are more pronounced among less wealthy individuals. In addition, our results remain unchanged after controlling for individuals' trust in government and risk preference. These findings highlight the role of biased belief in shaping individuals’ attitude toward redistribution, offering new insights for discussions on redistributive policies.

Using the census data from 2000-2015 and a pseudo-event study design, we estimate the motherhood penalty in China and explore its association with declining fertility. We find that one-third of working women leave their jobs in the year when they give birth, and the penalty persists for over eight years. The motherhood penalty increases significantly across almost all provinces during this period, and provinces with larger increases in the penalty experience greater declines in fertility rates. Using a mover-based design, we find that the rising motherhood penalty has caused a significant decline in the total fertility rate.