Welcome to Francis Academic Press

Academic Journal of Business & Management, 2024, 6(7); doi: 10.25236/AJBM.2024.060701.

A Study on the Mechanism of Confucian Culture's Influence on Chinese Families' Willingness to Allocate Assets—And the Intermediary Role of Happiness

Author(s)

Yuxiang Sun, Jiaxiao Chao

Corresponding Author:
Jiaxiao Chao
Affiliation(s)

Anqing Vocational and Technical College of Anhui Province, Anqing City, Anhui Province, 246000, China

Abstract

Taking Chinese residents with Confucian cultural concepts as the research object, we construct structural equation models of family hierarchical order, risk preference, marriage intention, fertility intention, happiness, and family asset allocation intention to examine the mechanism of Confucian culture's influence on Chinese residents' family asset allocation intention and explore the mediating role of happiness. The results show that : (1) among the four dimensions of Confucianism, family hierarchical order significantly and negatively affects family asset allocation intention; risk preference, marriage intention, and fertility intention significantly and positively affect family asset allocation intention. (2) Marital intention and fertility intention significantly and positively affect happiness, and family hierarchical order and risk preference significantly and negatively affect happiness. (3) Happiness significantly and positively affects household asset allocation intentions. (4) Happiness is a significant mediating variable of Confucian culture influencing household asset allocation intention. (5) Family hierarchical order significantly and positively affects risk preference; risk preference significantly and positively affects marriage intention; marriage intention significantly and positively affects parenting intention. The study confirms the important role of Confucian culture and clarifies the centrality of happiness in households' willingness to allocate assets, which has implications for enhancing residents' happiness and expanding the market for household asset allocation and improving asset allocation efficiency.

Keywords

Confucian culture, family asset allocation willingness, happiness

Cite This Paper

Yuxiang Sun, Jiaxiao Chao. A Study on the Mechanism of Confucian Culture's Influence on Chinese Families' Willingness to Allocate Assets—And the Intermediary Role of Happiness. Academic Journal of Business & Management (2024) Vol. 6, Issue 7: 1-14. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJBM.2024.060701.

References

[1] Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (1988). On the evaluation of structural equation models. Journal of the academy of marketing science, 16, 74-94.

[2] Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological bulletin, 88(3), 588.

[3] Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1992). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. Sociological methods & research, 21(2), 230-258.

[4] Chen, Y. J., Chen, Z., & He, S. (2019). Social norms and household savings rates in China. Review of Finance, 23(5), 961-991.

[5] Clark, A., Etilé, F., Postel‐Vinay, F., Senik, C., & Van der Straeten, K. (2005). Heterogeneity in reported well‐being: evidence from twelve European countries. The Economic Journal, 115(502), C118-C132.

[6] Du, C. Y., & Zhan, Y. B. (2019). Confucianism and household risky assets allocation: an empirical study based on CGSS. Jilin University Journal Social Sciences Edition, 59(06), 95-106+221. doi:10.15939/j.jujsse.2019.06.jj2.

[7] Duan, J. S., & Cui, M. X. (2016). Credit Constraints, risk attitude and household asset choice. Statistical Research, 33(06), 62-71. doi:10.19343/j.cnki.11-1302/c.2016.06.007.

[8] Fam, K. S., Yang, Z., & Hyman, M. (2009). Confucian/chopsticks marketing. Journal of Business Ethics, 393-397.

[9] Fang, L., & Tian, C. H. (2016). A good house gets you a good wife: rural housing investment and marriage matching. China Economic Quarterly, 15(02), 571-596. doi:10.13821/j.cnki.ceq.2016.01.07.

[10] Feng, L., & Liang, Z. A. (2015). Household housing, consumption and investment under inflation risk. Modern Finance and Economics-Journal of Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, 35(06), 93-104. doi:10.19559/j.cnki.12-1387.2015.06.008.

[11] Hayes, A. F. (2009). Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical mediation analysis in the new millennium. Communication monographs, 76(4), 408-420.

[12] He, Q. (2011). Climbing effects, ratchet effects and immaterial factors: a normative explanation of the happiness paradox. The Journal of World Economy, 34(07),148-160. doi:10.19985/j. cnki. cassjwe. 2011.07.009.

[13] Hermalin, B. E., & Isen, A. M. (2008). A model of the effect of affect on economic decision making. Quantitative Marketing and Economics, 6, 17-40.

[14] Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural equation modeling: a multidisciplinary journal, 6(1), 1-55.

[15] Jin, Z., Xu, H., & Ma, Y. Q. (2017). Confucianism and corporate’s risk taking. The Journal of World Economy, 40(11),170-192. doi:10.19985/j.cnki.cassjwe.2017.11.009.

[16] Lan, J. J., Du, C. P., & Wu, H. W. (2018). Household demographics and risky asset choice - an empirical study based on CHFS 2013. Studies of International Finance (11), 87-96. doi:10.16475/j. cnki. 1006-1029.2018.11.009.

[17] Lei, X. Y., & Zhou, Y. G. (2010). Asset portfolio choice of Chinese households: health status and risk appetite. Journal of Financial Research (01), 31-45.

[18] Leibenstein, H. (1958). Economic Backwardness and Economic Growth. Studies in the Theory of Economic Development. New YorkJ. Wiley & Sons, London, Chapman & Hall, 1957, XIV p. 295 p., $ 6.75. (1958). Bulletin de l’Institut de Recherches Économiques et Sociales, 24(6), 582–582. doi:10.1017/S0770451800051629

[19] Li, T.,& Fan, W. T. (2016). Parenthood and subjective well-being : a life-cycle and life-course perspective. Population Research, 40(05),6-19.

[20] Li, T., Shi, Y. P., & Chen, B. K. (2011). Homeownership and Happiness: theory and evidence from China. Economic Research Journal, 46(09),69-82+160.

[21] Li, Z. H. (1992). The significance of Confucianism as the mainstream of Chinese culture. Confucius Studies (01), 9-10.

[22] Liang, B., & Chen, R. (2022). Shaped by their children: child gender and household financial portfolio choice. China Economic Quarterly, 22(04), 1299-1318. doi:10.13821/j.cnki.ceq.2022.04.10.

[23] Liu, X. Y., & Lu, M. T. (2020). Labour income differentials, marital risk and family-based social security. Academia Bimestris (02),46-52. doi:10.16091/j.cnki.cn32-1308/c.2020.02.008.

[24] Malhotra, N. K., Lopes, E., & Veiga, R. T. (2014). Structural equation modeling with Lisrel: an initial vision. Brazilian Journal of Marketing, 13(2).

[25] Mizell, C. A., & Steelman, L. C. (2000). All my children: The consequences of sibling group characteristics on the marital happiness of young mothers. Journal of Family Issues, 21(7), 858-887.

[26] Mu, Z., & Xie, Y. (2014).The impact of childbearing on parents' subjective well-being. Sociological Studies, 29(06),124-147+244. doi:10.19934/j.cnki.shxyj.2014.06.006.

[27] Pan, J. B., & Guo, F. C. (2022). Analysis on the influence of well-being, financial literacy and family asset allocation behavior. Zhejiang Finance (05), 36-48.

[28] Pan, W. D., Li, W. L., & Tang, X. D. (2022). Confucian culture and family asset allocation-research based on the dual perspective of risk preference and fertility intention. Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, 44(12), 1-17. doi:10.13781/j.cnki.1007-9556.2022.12.001.

[29] Wang, R., Xu, H., & Zhang, S. S. (2022). Will children situation affect family financial asset allocation-evidence from China family finance survey(CHFS). Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, 44(03), 58-71. doi:10.13781/j.cnki.1007-9556.2022.03.005.

[30] Wang, W., & Ai, C. R. (2015). Population ageing and the dynamic evolution of the savings rate in China. Journal of Management World (06), 47-62. doi:10.19744/j.cnki.11-1235/f.2015.06.005.

[31] Wei, S. J., & Zhang, X. (2011). The competitive saving motive: Evidence from rising sex ratios and savings rates in China. Journal of political Economy, 119(3), 511-564.

[32] Wu, W. X., & Gao, S. W. (2016). Which households' risky asset investments are squeezed out by property investment?. Journal of Southeast University (Philosophy and Social Science) (04), 56-66+147. doi:10.13916/j.cnki.issn1671-511x.2016.04.007.

[33] Wu, W. X., Shen, T., & Jiang, T. (2014). Do real estate assets crowd out household's risky assets allocation? - An empirical analysis based on micro-survey data. Scientific Decision Making (11), 52-69.

[34] Xiao, J. (2021). Infant care, the labor income of fertile women and care penalty-empirical analysis based on propensity score matching method. Journal of Statistics, 2 (02), 31-42. doi:10.19820/j. cnki. Issn 2096-7411.2021.02.003.

[35] Xiao, Y. Z. (2022). The Confucian concept of fertility and its modern transformation in the context of the "family-state" relationship. International Studies on Confucianism, 2(01), 35-38+166-167.

[36] Xiao, Z. P., & Zhang, X. Z. (2012). Research in the effects of institutions and human capital on market participation-evidence from national private enterpriser survey. Economic Research Journal, 47(S1), 91-104.

[37] Xu, J., & Tan, Y. (2016). The dynamic adjustment of Chinese households’ financial asset allocation. Journal of Financial Research (12), 95-110.

[38] Xu, X. X., Li, W. L., & Chen, X. C. (2020). Confucian culture and stock price crash risk. Accounting Research (04),143-150.

[39] Ye, D. Z., & Zhou, L. Y. (2015). Does happiness affect household financial asset choice? - An empirical analysis based on data from the China household finance survey. South China Finance (02),24-32.

[40] Ye, D. Z., Lian, Y. J., & Huang, Y. G. (2015). National culture and saving rates: a cross-country empirical research based on dominance analysis. Chinese Review of Financial Studies, 7(03),31-44+123-124.

[41] Ye, D. Z., Lian, Y. J., Huang, Y. G., & Li, D. H. (2012). Consumption culture,cognitive bias and consumption anomalies. Economic Research Journal, 47(02),80-92.

[42] Yi, Z. C., Song, Q. Y., & Wu, Y. (2014). Financial literacy, trading experience and household portfolio choice. Economic Research Journal (04), 62-75.

[43] Yu, L. T., & Lian, H. Q. (2017). Save for marriage? Empirical evidence from CFPS data. Journal of Finance and Economics, 43(06), 17-27. doi:10.16538/j.cnki.jfe.2017.06.002.

[44] Zhang, Y. Q. (2003). The Cause of Formation of the Conservative Trend in the Late Qing Dynasty and Its Influence on Modern China. Journal of Xiamen University (Arts & Social Sciences) (05),113-120.

[45] Zhou, G. S., Fan, G., & Li, L. X. (2018). Income disparity, material aspirations and household investment in risky financial Assets. The Journal of World Economy, 41(04), 53-74. doi:10.19985/j.cnki. cassjwe. 2018.04.004.

[46] Zhu, H. Z. (2008). Sociological thinking on the fear of marriage among urban youth. Journal of Nantong University (Social Sciences Edition) (02),107-111.