Economic transition and new patterns of parent‐adult child coresidence in Urban China

By Q. Zhang. 2004

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This study uses national data from the 1996 Life History and Social Change in Contemporary China survey (N = 3087) to gauge the effect of the economic transition on parent-adult child coresidence in urban China. Previous studies find that thanks to state actions traditional patterns in coresidence persisted in post-Mao urban China. This study still finds high levels of coresidence. Chinas aging population coupled with an underdeveloped social security system means that the traditional role of family will remain strong. It also uncovers three new patterns however best explained as caused by changes in the economic realm. First the coresidence pattern changes over parents life course shifting from child-centered to parent-centered as parents age. Second class differentials begin to emerge most notably seen in the unique patterns of the entrepreneurial class. Last gender differentials remain significant but the tilt toward sons has strengthened. (authors)

Subfields: Gender Studies, Political Science and International Relations, Sociology and Political Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/3f0e248fabdbe2fd55db55920fa84e1a988c1afe