Public pensions and family dynamics: Eldercare, child investment, and son preference in rural China

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Guo, Naijia; Huang, Wei; Wang, Ruixin
• 署名单位: Lingnan University; Peking University; Harbin Institute of Technology
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103390
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Pension; Eldercare mode; Brideprice; Sex ratio; son preference

摘要

Using variations in the timing of the New Rural Pension Scheme (NRPS) across rural Chinese counties, we examine its effects on eldercare mode, child investment, and son preference. Our findings are three-fold: (1) After the introduction of NRPS, married sons are less likely to live with and provide care for their parents, while married daughters show no significant change in their caregiving behavior; (2) Parents reduce the brideprice for their sons but not the dowry for their daughters; (3) The sex ratio at birth becomes more balanced, indicating a reduction in son preference. These results suggest that public pension programs can significantly influence traditional family dynamics, including eldercare modes and cultural norms around gender preference.