居住安排对于老年人消费的影响研究——基于中国老年社会追踪调查(CLASS)数据的实证分析

The Impact of Living Arrangements on Old Adult Consumption—An Empirical Analysis Based on the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) Data

随着医疗技术的不断进步与社会保障制度的逐步完善,我国老龄化程度的持续加深,使中国老年群体的寿命明显延长、人数急剧增长。尽管国家和社会在积极构建养老服务体系,但短期内与家庭成员同住的居家养老模式仍将发挥重要作用。本文利用2018年中国老年社会追踪调查(CLASS)数据,通过应用OLS回归模型等方法,针对老年人的居住安排对消费的影响进行了实证研究。结果表明,与子女同住的居住安排显著增加了他们的消费水平,这种效果在60至79岁的群体、自评健康一般的人群以及居住在城市和东部地区的老年人中尤为突出。就不同消费类别而言,其影响的边际效应依次为文化娱乐、水电气费、物业费、交通和通信费用、日常食品消费和医疗费用。与子女同住提升老年人消费水平的主要机制是与子女同住通常意味着老年人可以获得更多的经济支持和照顾,减轻了他们的金融压力,使得他们有更多可支配收入用于其他消费,并提高了他们的主观幸福感和生活质量。

With the continuous advancement of medical technology and the gradual improvement of the social security system in China, the deepening aging of the population has led to a significant extension of the lifespan and a rapid increase in the number of elderly people. Despite the nation’s and society’s active efforts in constructing a pension service system, the home-based elderly care model, where elderly live with their family members, will still play an important role in the short term. This paper utilizes the 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) data and employs methods such as the OLS regression model to empirically study the impact of elderly living arrangements on consumption. The results show that living with children significantly increases their consumption level. This effect is particularly pronounced in the 60 to 79 age group, among those who have received primary and secondary education, and among the elderly living in urban areas and in the eastern region. In terms of different consumption categories, the marginal effects are in the order of culture and entertainment, utilities, property management fees, transportation and communication expenses, daily food consumption, and medical expenses. The main mechanism by which living with children enhances the consumption level of the elderly is that co-residence usually means more economic support and care for the elderly, reducing their financial pressure, allowing more disposable income for other expenditures, and improving their subjective well-being and quality of life.