Abstract
Today, China is still the most populous country in the world. By the end of 2015, China’s population reached 1.37 billion, accounting for 18.7% of the total world population. However, China is now experiencing a changing population structure as a result of falling birth rates and the start of an ageing population. This chapter discusses China current level of preparedness for its population ageing and a case study of Beijing on the current and potential needs of the elderly and the supply of old-age people oriented products and services.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
According to the potential demographic and socio-economic consequences, low fertility rates can be divided into low fertility (1.5–2.1), very low fertility (1.3–1.5) and lowest-low fertility (below 1.3) (CDRF 2012).
- 2.
This refers to the people whose place of residence differs from their registered residence and who have been away from the latter for more than 6 months (excluding those who have been so in urban jurisdictions).
- 3.
Permanent residents refer to those who live in a particular area on a permanent basis. The definition of “permanent residents” for the sixth national census includes the following: people whose hukou (registered permanent residence) is in an area and who live there; people whose hukou is outside an area but who have lived there for over 6 months; people who live in an area and whose hukou is yet to be established; and people whose hukou is in an area but who have been away for less than 6 months.
- 4.
“Left-behind children” and “migrant children” are two special groups emerging during China’s rural-to-urban migration. “Left-behind children” refers to those who have stayed in the hometown in spite of their parents leaving as migrants. In contrast, “migrant children” refers to those who have moved together with their migrant parents.
- 5.
The “hollowing-out” of rural areas is an undesirable evolution of the rural area system during the rural-urban transformation. It includes the “hollowing-out” of rural industry and infrastructure as well as that of rural land and population. In essence, it is the overall degeneration of the socio-economic functions of rural areas (Liu and Yu 2010).
- 6.
The term “silver economy” has been frequently used by European scholars in recent years. At the “Silver Economy in Europe” Conference in Bonn, Germany in February 2005, a declaration was drafted which describes the silver economy “…as an opportunity for quality of life, economic growth and competitiveness in Europe’ (Silver Economy in Europe 2005: web document). The declaration argues that “an appropriate innovative drive [in this sector] results in growth and new jobs, and in a global context increases Europe’s competitiveness and that of the companies operating [t]here” (Silver Economy in Europe 2005: web document). In this research, silver industry (or silver economy) is defined as the industry/sector focusing on producing/providing the aged population oriented products/services. “White economy” refers to those products, services and activities related to healthcare and care including the dependent, disabled and elderly.
- 7.
Disability adjusted life year (DALY) refers to the total number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death. It includes the two parts of years of life lost (YLL) due to early death and years lived with disability (YLD) caused by diseases.
- 8.
This survey was conducted during the period from August to November 2012. Three types of respondents were interviewed: residents aged 50 or over, leaders of enterprises engaging in silver and white industries, and officials working in senior-related sectors.
- 9.
In 2011, China’s per capita GDP was CNY 35,083 (USD 5432).
References
Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau (2012) Outlook of Beijing’s population ageing
Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics (2012) 2012 Beijing statistical yearbook
Cheng J, Danan G, Yuzhi L, Yi Z (2010) A multi-state life table approach to China’s elderly care costs. In: Yi Z et al (eds) Cost study on family, health, and care needs of the elderly population. Science Press, Beijing
China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) (2012) 2011/12 China development report: demographic changes and policy adjustment. China Development Press
China National Committee on Ageing (2011) Development of the cause of Chinese seniors during the eleventh five-year plan period. China National Committee on Ageing
Gu D, Zeng Y (2006) Study on the changing self-care capability of the Chinese elderly population, 1992-2002. Population and Economy, No. 4
Feng W (2012a) China’s population at a historical turning point. In CDRF, 2011/12 China development report: demographic changes and policy adjustment. China Development Press
Feng W (2012b) Policy proposals. In: CDRF, 2011/12 China development report: demographic changes and policy adjustment. China Development Press
Feng W et al (2012) 2012 Beijing silver industry research report, CDRF
Guo Z (2012) China’s low fertility rate and neglected population risks. Int Econ Rev 6:112–126
Liu Y, Yu L (2010) Progress and prospect on the study of rural hollowing in China. Acta Geogr Sin 29(1):35–42
Lu J (2011) The development of China’s old-age services. Background report of China development report 2011/12: demographic changes and policy adjustment, CDRF
Lu J, Bai M, Liu Y (2008) Study on residence wish of the urban elderly: taking Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing for example. Popul J 1(2008):35–41
National Bureau of Statistics of the People’s Republic of China (2011) Results of 2010 population census of China. China Statistics Press
National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC) (2011) Report on the development of China’s floating population. NPFPC
Shanghai Securities News (2011) The elderly care industry sees trillion business opportunities as China enters aging society, 30 May
UNFPA (2011) The state of world population 2011, United Nations Population Fund, New York. www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/8726. Accessed June 2012
United Nations (2011a) World population prospects: the 2010 revision population database. United Nations, New York. http://esa.un.org/wpp/Documentation/WPP%202010%20publications.htm. Accessed June 2012
United Nations (2011b) World fertility policies 2011. United Nations, New York
United Nations (2013) World population prospects: the 2012 revision population database. United Nations, New York. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm
Wang F (2011) China’s demographic transition in comparison with other countries and the gain and loss of demographic dividend. Background report of China development report 2011/12: demographic changes and policy adjustment, CDRF
Yi Z et al (2010) Study on the family, health and caring costs of the elderly. Science Press, Beijing
Yong C (2012) The future of China’s population according to the population projections of the United Nations. Int Econ Rev 2012(1):73–95
Yun Z, Liu Y, Chen M, Huang X (2010) Care needs of the Chinese elderly population and social nursing homes. In: Zeng Y et al (eds) Study on the family, health, and care costs of the elderly. Science Press, Beijing
Zheng B (ed) (2011) The China pension report 2011. Economy and Management Publishing House, Beijing
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Feng, W. (2017). China’s Response to Its Ageing Population. In: Martinez, C., Weyman, T., van Dijk, J. (eds) Demographic Transition, Labour Markets and Regional Resilience. Advances in Spatial Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63197-4_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63197-4_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63196-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63197-4
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)