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Who Will Care for Middle Aged and Elderly Parents in Rural China?

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  • Menghua Li
  • Yun Zhou
  • Xinjie Shi

Abstract

Using data from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this paper analyzes how the health of parents is causally linked to the gender of their children. We find that, compared with parents with no daughters, those with one daughter are healthier by 0.155 more activities of daily living. This effect is mainly channeled through the provision of emotional comfort and financial support, and not through living with parents. We also confirm that daughters are an important source of financial and emotional support for elderly parents, regardless of whether the parents have pension insurance. This study has important policy implications for China as it focuses on the support from daughters, who historically have not been considered to be as reliable as sons in supporting their parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Menghua Li & Yun Zhou & Xinjie Shi, 2021. "Who Will Care for Middle Aged and Elderly Parents in Rural China?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 29(2), pages 123-150, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:chinae:v:29:y:2021:i:2:p:123-150
    DOI: 10.1111/cwe.12373
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    2. Rao, Ziwei & Zhang, Yi, 2024. "Rely on children or work longer? The impact of fertility and child gender on old-age labor supply," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    3. Lei, Lei & Wu, Fengyu & Xia, Yiming, 2023. "Child Gender and Subjective Well-being of Older Parents in China," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1229, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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