This paper examines the impacts of social pension provision among people of different ages. Utilizing the county-by-county rollout of the New Rural Pension Scheme in rural China, we find that, among the age-eligible people, the scheme provision leads to higher household income (18 percent) and...

This paper examines the impact of cultural norms on arrangements made for old-age support. Using data from a recent national household survey in China, I show that clan culture is significantly associated with a set of individual values about the purpose of childbearing. I then find that, among...

This paper examines the role of social capital in disaster relief during China's Great Famine of 1958-1961. We use the number of genealogies—books recording family trees—as a proxy for family clans, one of the most important vehicles of social capital in rural China. Using a county-year...

This paper examines the impacts of social pension provision among people of different ages. Utilizing the county-by-county rollout of the New Rural Pension Scheme in rural China, we find that, among the age-eligible people, the scheme provision leads to higher household income (18 percent) and...

Using the China General Social Survey data, we tried to examine the impact of gender roles on women’s labor market outcomes. We find that traditional gender roles emphasizing women’s responsibility for housework are negatively related to the employment rate and earnings of women. Although...

Retirement system reforms such as postponing retirement age in law are needed in China because of its rapid population aging. The overquick aging will result in both shortage of labor force supply and incubus of the social security system. The Chinese government acknowledged the negative...

Most people in rural China have no plans for retirement other than the ingrained Chinese tradition that children care for old parents. Actually there are also no sources of social support such as social old-age insurance to rely on in rural people’ old age for a long time in China. In 1992, a...

One striking phenomena of the macro economy in China during the past decade is the rapid exporting growth. Exporting growth provides strong demand for domestic manufacturing production and is one of the most important engines of economic growth. Using population census data and trade data, this...

Using data from a most recent national household survey in China, we provide new evidence for the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and labor market attainments. In contrast to previous studies, we find a non-linear relationship between BMI and employment / wages, especially for women....

Using data from a most recent national household survey in China, we provide new evidence for the associations between body mass index (BMI) and labor market attainments. In contrast to previous studies, we find a significant non-linear relationship between BMI and probability of employment /...