Can the New Rural Old-age Pension Substitute Rural Family Support for the Elderly?——Evidence from Regression Discontinuity Based on Gender Difference of Children
ZHANG Zhao-hua1, WANG Lei2, LUO Yu-xi3
1.School of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China; 2.School of Business Administration, Hehai University, Changzhou 213000, China; 3.School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
Abstract：
Through an inverse probability weighting of sample data from the 2013 CHARLS and the combination of the regression discontinuity design with the “Difference in Differences” approach, this study addresses the substitution effect of China’s new rural old-age pension program on traditional family-based elder care from perspectives of financial support and spiritual comfort. The results reveal that pension income reduces the pecuniary support from adult children by 23%. In addition, a pension income decreases the probability of co-residence between adult children and their parents, as well as the frequency of adult children’s visit. From sample regression results, it is observed that pension income makes a big difference in families with sons while showing no influence on families with daughters only. Generally, these results indicate that social pension weakens the emotional ties between adult children and parents though it enhances their financial independence. Therefore, along with the deeper development of social pension, great attention should also be paid to the non-monetary support by policy makers to improve the psychological well-being of the elderly in an attempt to reduce the number of empty nest families.
ZHANG Zhao-hua, WANG Lei, LUO Yu-xi.Can the New Rural Old-age Pension Substitute Rural Family Support for the Elderly?——Evidence from Regression Discontinuity Based on Gender Difference of Children[J] Economic Survey, 2018,V35(4): 23-29
2018 
