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The Effects of Parenthood on Grant Application in China: The Case of an Early Career Grant

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Abstract

Utilizing a survey conducted in 2016 by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, this study explores the effects of parenthood on the likelihood of the scientist’s first application for the Young Investigator Grant Program administered by the National Science Foundation of China. The analysis indicates that having a child negatively affects scientists’ probability of application. However, this parenthood effect varies by scientist’s gender and child’s age. While women scientists are more adversely affected by having a young child, men scientists are more adversely affected by having an older child. These gendered parenthood effects are moderated by changes in government policy. Both theoretical and policy implications are discussed.

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Funding

This research was supported by (1) National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)’s Young Investigator Grant Program “The impact of the Young Investigator Grant Program on scientists’ academic and occupational development” (71503239). (2) The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Sichuan University, P.R. China.

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  1. School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Ying Ma & Xiaohe Xu

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Xiaohe Xu

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  1. Ying Ma
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Correspondence to Xiaohe Xu.

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Ma, Y., Xu, X. The Effects of Parenthood on Grant Application in China: The Case of an Early Career Grant. High Educ Policy 36, 719–738 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-022-00281-1

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