The effect of family size on intergenerational support for elderly parents and their life expectancy: Evidence from China’s “Later, Longer, Fewer” campaign

This study documents increased life expectancy among elderly parents in China whose adult children were exposed to the “Later, Longer, Fewer” (LLF) family planning campaign in the 1970s. We leverage the variation in policy exposure at the province, urban, and birth-cohort level to understand the extent to which the LLF campaign has affected social networks and intergenerational support for elderly parents. The plausible channels that may impact life expectancy are living arrangements, visits, and financial transfers. Using the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we identify adults of childbearing age who were exposed to the LLF campaign and whose fertility was reduced. We find that greater LLF exposure increases the likelihood of the wife’s parents co-residing in her household. The increase in elderly support, however, is largely manifested through more visits and financial transfers from their sons’ families, which is unsurprising in a patrilineal society. Most gains are driven by rural households. • The study finds that elderly parents in China live longer if their adult children were exposed to the “Later, Longer, Fewer” (LLF) family planning campaign in the 1970s. • The research uses variations in LLF campaign exposure across province, urban/rural settings, and birth cohorts to analyze its impact on intergenerational support. • Living arrangements, visits, and financial transfers from adult children to elderly parents are identified as key channels enhancing life expectancy through stronger social networks. • LLF exposure increases the likelihood of elderly parents co-residing in their daughter’s household. • In China’s patrilineal society, elderly support primarily occurs through increased visits and financial transfers from sons’ families.