The impact of care for grandchildren on the supports for elderly parents of first-generation only-child parents in urban China

The support elderly parents receive from their grown-up children and the care they provide for grandchildren reflect the intergenerational relationships in Chinese families.Using data on only-child families in urban China from a 2015 survey conducted by the Institute of Population and Labor Economics,Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,this paper studies the status of care provided for grandchildren by parents of first-generation only-child in urban China and considers the effects this support has on the elderly.The data shows that over 80%of only-children parents have cared for their grandchildren.Most only-children also provide support for their elderly parents.Care for grandchildren provided by grandparents increases the economic and housekeeping support for the elderly provided by only-children.Only-children are the main beneficiaries of the intergenerational support that comes from the care for grandchildren provided by elderly parents.If the elderly parents have adequate retirement income and have little or no need for financial support,such intergenerational support resembles“altruism”.However,if the elderly parents do not have adequate retirement income,the satisfaction of their needs depends on resources like time and money available to their only-children.

The Chinese response to the challenges of aging

The burden of support for the elderly, intergenemfional relationships and value realization constitute three vital factors that will shape China＇s sustainable development in the future. These three issues translate themselves into the problem of ＂fewer producers and more consumers＂ in the field of economics, or intergenerational conflicts over distribution of resources and power and the issue of old people＇s value realization in the field of sociology. From the perspective of demography, old persons who are vulnerable as a result of family planning occupy an ever increasing proportion of the population, and China can expect to see a large number of ＂elderly people affected by family planning.＂ This concept has been formulated to draw the attention of government and government departments at all levels to the public benefit and welfare character of public services in population and family planning. Aging poses long-term and diverse challenges to a China that is getting old before it gets rich. In response to such challenges, this paper proposes a strategy of ＂successful aging＂ that foresees an old age of health, activity, harmony and happiness. In responding to population aging and the challenges it poses, Chinese society has developed a unique approach that combines tradition with modem elements. This approach may be summarized as being based on old age support by families, work units （collectives） and self-help, supplemented by the community, social welfare and philanthropy. The paper concludes with a brief review of the contributions in this special issue within the framework of＂China＇s problem and China＇s choices.＂