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Transitions to partnership and parenthood: Is China still traditional?

Author

Listed:
  • William A.V. Clark

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Daichun Yi

    (Southwestern University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

Background: In the context of rapid economic and social change in China, we analyze young adult life course trajectories in the important decisions around forming partnerships and creating a family. We focus on the decisions by the millennial young adult cohort who are under 40 years of age. Objective: We ask “Is China following the Western pattern of delayed marriage and family formation or will the cultural context create a different trajectory to marriage and family formation?” Methods: The study uses data from the China Household Finance Survey. The study examines the extent to which the life-course trajectories are changing in a period of rapid economic and social change, and how parental support and extended family linkages influence the relative rate of the trajectory to marriage and family formation. We use both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Results: We show that cross generational links are important and reflect the cultural context of the special nature of strong linkages across parents, children, and grandchildren in China. Although age at marriage has increased modestly, marriage is still the norm and having a child takes place quite rapidly after marriage. Contribution: This paper places the transition to marriage and family formation into an international context and shows how deep cultural forces are changing only slowly with economic modernization. Overall, the analysis suggests more continuity than change in young adults’ life course decisions with respect to marriage and family formation.

Suggested Citation

  • William A.V. Clark & Daichun Yi, 2020. "Transitions to partnership and parenthood: Is China still traditional?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(6), pages 143-168.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:43:y:2020:i:6
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2020.43.6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kasey Buckles, 2008. "Understanding the Returns to Delayed Childbearing for Working Women," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(2), pages 403-407, May.
    2. Jia Yu & Yu Xie, 2015. "Cohabitation in China: Trends and Determinants," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 41(4), pages 607-628, December.
    3. Judith A. Seltzer, 2019. "Family Change and Changing Family Demography," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(2), pages 405-426, April.
    4. Hill Kulu & Andres Vikat, 2007. "Fertility differences by housing type: an effect of housing conditions or of selective moves?," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2007-014, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    5. William A.V. Clark, 2012. "Do women delay family formation in expensive housing markets?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 27(1), pages 1-24.
    6. Cezar Santos & David Weiss, 2016. "“Why Not Settle Down Already?” A Quantitative Analysis Of The Delay In Marriage," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 57, pages 425-452, May.
    7. Hill Kulu & Andres Vikat, 2007. "Fertility differences by housing type," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 17(26), pages 775-802.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zachary Van Winkle & Fangqi Wen, 2023. "A Holistic Approach to Family Life Course Change across 1930–1978 Chinese Birth Cohorts," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 49(2), pages 279-317, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    hukou; family; marriage; births; fertility; life course; homeownership; wealth; city size;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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