Family Structure and Quality of Life of Elders in Rural China: The Role of the New Rural Social Pension |
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| Authors: | Huijun Liu Xiuhua Han Shuzhuo Li M. W. Feldman |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Professor, Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;2. Researcher, Center for Aging and Health Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;3. Professor, School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;4. Director, Center for Aging and Health Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China;5. Professor, Morrison Institute for Population and Resource Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA;6. Adviser, Center for Aging and Health research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China |
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| Abstract: | Using data from a survey in Ankang district of Shaanxi province of China in 2011, this article examines the protective effect of the New Rural Social Pension (NRSP) on quality of life of rural elders, as well the moderating effect on association between family structure and quality of life. An instrumental variable approach is used. NRSP is shown to significantly improve the quality of life of rural elders, and a robustness check shows that this effect is consistent across different sets of subgroups. Compared with the elders who have at least one son, the quality of life of those who are childless or have only one child is significantly lower. The NRSP is more likely to significantly improve the quality of life of one-child elders. In addition, the associations between the NRSP and the different facets of quality of life of the elders are significant except for the facet of sensory abilities. |
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| Keywords: | China elders family structure New Rural Social Pension (NRSP) old-age support quality of life |
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