Guoxiong Zhao, Bo Jin, Biao Ma, Chen Zhang
ABSTRACT Poverty alleviation relocation is an important component of China's anti‐poverty strategy and has reshaped relocated households' living conditions and social integration. Using the Poverty Alleviation Relocation Programme (PARP) as a quasi‐natural experiment, this study examines the impact of relocation on households' social status based on four‐wave panel data from 1351 households. The results show that relocation significantly improves subjective social status, whereas its effect on objective social status is insignificant. The positive effect is more pronounced among young adults aged 18–44, elderly individuals aged 60 and above, households with lower educational attainment, and those resettled in rural areas. Mechanism analysis suggests that social network expansion and improved life satisfaction are important channels through which relocation enhances perceived social standing. The findings also reveal a significant increase in conspicuous consumption after relocation, suggesting stronger aspirations for upward mobility among relocated households. By extending the analysis from material welfare to the social dimensions of relocation, this study provides new evidence on the social consequences of poverty alleviation relocation and offers implications for subsequent support policies.