The Elderly and Old Age Support in Rural China (Directions in Development): Challenges and Prospects (Directions in Development - Human Development) - Softcover

Cai, Fang; Giles, John; O'Keefe, Philip; Wang, Dewen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0821386859 ISBN 13: 9780821386859

Publisher: World Bank Publications, 2011

Synopsis

This volume first examines projected demographic changes that will affect the economic well-being of China's rural elderly over the next twenty years, taking into account both China's sharp demographic transition and the continued migration of young adults into cities. The projected old age dependency ratio of 34 percent in China's rural areas by 2030 suggests that support of the elderly is likely to be an increasing burden on China's families over the next twenty years.The book next documents the sources of financial support, poverty incidence and vulnerability of the rural elderly since the early 1990s. China's rural elderly have been consistently poorer and more vulnerable to poverty than both working age households and the urban elderly. In contrast to the urban elderly who frequently have pension support, the rural elderly typically rely either on their own labor income or financial support from adult children. A substantial share of China's rural elderly continue to work well beyond the age 70, but labor as a primary source of support falls sharply during their 60s. Additional evidence suggests that the rural elderly work well beyond 60 out of necessity and only stop working when physically incapacitated.

Edition details

• Publisher: World Bank Publications
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0821386859
• ISBN 13: 9780821386859
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 166