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

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  • Guo, Naijia
  • Huang, Wei
  • Wang, Ruixin

Abstract

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.

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  • Guo, Naijia & Huang, Wei & Wang, Ruixin, 2025. "Public pensions and family dynamics: Eldercare, child investment, and son preference in rural China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s0304387824001391
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103390
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pension; Eldercare mode; Brideprice; Sex ratio; Son preference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General

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