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Long-term care insurance coverage and labor force participation of older people: Evidence from China

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  • Ai, Jingyi
  • Feng, Jin
  • Zhang, Xiaohan

Abstract

Many scholars attribute the slowdown of economic growth to population aging and its negative impact on the size of the labor force. Meanwhile, government programs targeting an aging society can generate work disincentives. This paper studies the unintended labor market effects of Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI) among people of older age by exploiting the launch of the LTCI program in China. We find that policy-covered older adults decreased labor market engagement, significantly increasing the probability of exiting the labor market completely or not working full-time. We also document more substantial effects among those with low income, poor health, advanced age, and few children. The forgone wages of older adults account for >0.25% of GDP. These findings have policy implications for countries “growing old before getting rich.”

Suggested Citation

  • Ai, Jingyi & Feng, Jin & Zhang, Xiaohan, 2024. "Long-term care insurance coverage and labor force participation of older people: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:86:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24000816
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102192
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    10. Tianli Yang & Zhong Zhao, 2025. "Public Long‐Term Care Insurance and Retirement Intentions of Urban Workers: Evidence From China," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(9), pages 1537-1559, September.

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