The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective

This paper highlights the employment patterns of China's over-45 population and, for perspective, places them in the context of work and retirement patterns in Indonesia, Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom. As is common in many d...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Giles, John, Wang, Dewen, Cai, Wei
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111024112519
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3619
id okr-10986-3619
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
ACCOUNTING
AGE DISTRIBUTION
AGE POPULATIONS
AGE SUPPORT
AGING POPULATION
AGING POPULATIONS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
BLUE COLLAR OCCUPATIONS
BULLETIN
CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT
DEMOGRAPHERS
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISABILITY
DISLOCATED WORKERS
DISPLACED WORKERS
EARLY RETIREMENT
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
ECONOMIC STATUS
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
ELDERLY
ELDERLY POPULATION
EMPLOYABILITY
EMPLOYEE
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS
EMPLOYMENT RATE
EMPLOYMENT RATES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXTENDED FAMILY
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE EMPLOYMENT
FEMINIST
GENDER DIFFERENCES
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
GENDER DISPARITY
HEALTH INSURANCE
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
HOURS OF WORK
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WEALTH
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUSBANDS
INCOME
INFORMAL SECTOR
INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS
INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFERS
INTERNATIONAL POPULATION
JOB HISTORY
JOB LOSS
JOB PLACEMENT
JOB SEARCH
JOBS
LABOR ALLOCATION
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
LABOR INCOME
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR REGULATION
LABOR RELATIONS
LABOR RESEARCH
LABOR SUPPLY
LARGE CITIES
LAYOFF
LEGAL SUPPORT
LEVELS OF EDUCATION
LIFETIME EARNINGS
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
MALE COUNTERPARTS
MANDATORY RETIREMENT
MARITAL STATUS
MARRIED COUPLES
MARRIED WOMEN
MIGRANT
MIGRANTS
MIGRATION
NATIONAL PENSION
NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE
NUTRITION
OLD AGE
OLD AGE LABOR SUPPLY
OLD-AGE
OLDER ADULTS
OLDER HUSBANDS
OLDER MEN
OLDER WOMEN
OLDER WORKERS
PENSION
PENSION BENEFITS
PENSION COVERAGE
PENSION INCOME
PENSION INCOMES
PENSION PLAN
PENSION PROGRAM
PENSION PROGRAMS
PENSION SCHEME
PENSION SYSTEM
PENSION SYSTEMS
PENSION WEALTH
PENSIONS
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR HEALTH
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
POPULATION CENSUS
PRESENT EVIDENCE
PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS
PRIVATE TRANSFER
PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY
PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT
PRODUCTIVE WORK
PRODUCTIVITY
PROGRESS
PROVISION OF CARE
PUBLIC PENSION
PUBLIC SERVICES
REEMPLOYMENT CENTERS
RESEARCH COMMUNITY
RETIREES
RETIREMENT
RETIREMENT AGE
RETIREMENT AGES
RETIREMENT BEHAVIOR
RETIREMENT DECISION
RETIREMENT DECISIONS
RETIREMENT INCENTIVES
RETIREMENT PLANNING
RETIREMENT SURVEY
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
RURAL AREAS
RURAL COUNTIES
RURAL POPULATION
RURAL RESIDENTS
RURAL WOMAN
RURAL WOMEN
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SELFEMPLOYMENT
SERVANTS
SKILLED LABOR
SKILLED WORKERS
SMALL ENTERPRISES
SOCIAL INSURANCE
SOCIAL INSURANCE BENEFITS
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM
SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
SPOUSE
SPOUSES
URBAN AREAS
URBAN EMPLOYMENT
URBAN MIGRATION
URBAN POPULATIONS
URBAN WOMEN
URBAN WORKERS
URBANIZATION
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WAGE INCREASES
WAGES
WORK ACTIVITIES
WORK ACTIVITY
WORK HOURS
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORKER
WORKFORCE
WORKING
WORKING HOURS
WORKING LIFE
WORKPLACE
YOUNG AGE
YOUNG AGES
YOUNG WORKERS
YOUNGER WORKERS
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
spellingShingle ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
ACCOUNTING
AGE DISTRIBUTION
AGE POPULATIONS
AGE SUPPORT
AGING POPULATION
AGING POPULATIONS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
BLUE COLLAR OCCUPATIONS
BULLETIN
CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT
DEMOGRAPHERS
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISABILITY
DISLOCATED WORKERS
DISPLACED WORKERS
EARLY RETIREMENT
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC RESOURCES
ECONOMIC STATUS
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
ELDERLY
ELDERLY POPULATION
EMPLOYABILITY
EMPLOYEE
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS
EMPLOYMENT RATE
EMPLOYMENT RATES
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
EXTENDED FAMILY
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SUPPORT
FEMALE EMPLOYMENT
FEMINIST
GENDER DIFFERENCES
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
GENDER DISPARITY
HEALTH INSURANCE
HEALTH PROBLEMS
HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION
HOURS OF WORK
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WEALTH
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUSBANDS
INCOME
INFORMAL SECTOR
INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS
INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFERS
INTERNATIONAL POPULATION
JOB HISTORY
JOB LOSS
JOB PLACEMENT
JOB SEARCH
JOBS
LABOR ALLOCATION
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
LABOR INCOME
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR REGULATION
LABOR RELATIONS
LABOR RESEARCH
LABOR SUPPLY
LARGE CITIES
LAYOFF
LEGAL SUPPORT
LEVELS OF EDUCATION
LIFETIME EARNINGS
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
MALE COUNTERPARTS
MANDATORY RETIREMENT
MARITAL STATUS
MARRIED COUPLES
MARRIED WOMEN
MIGRANT
MIGRANTS
MIGRATION
NATIONAL PENSION
NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE
NUTRITION
OLD AGE
OLD AGE LABOR SUPPLY
OLD-AGE
OLDER ADULTS
OLDER HUSBANDS
OLDER MEN
OLDER WOMEN
OLDER WORKERS
PENSION
PENSION BENEFITS
PENSION COVERAGE
PENSION INCOME
PENSION INCOMES
PENSION PLAN
PENSION PROGRAM
PENSION PROGRAMS
PENSION SCHEME
PENSION SYSTEM
PENSION SYSTEMS
PENSION WEALTH
PENSIONS
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR HEALTH
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
POPULATION CENSUS
PRESENT EVIDENCE
PRIVATE EMPLOYERS
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS
PRIVATE TRANSFER
PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY
PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT
PRODUCTIVE WORK
PRODUCTIVITY
PROGRESS
PROVISION OF CARE
PUBLIC PENSION
PUBLIC SERVICES
REEMPLOYMENT CENTERS
RESEARCH COMMUNITY
RETIREES
RETIREMENT
RETIREMENT AGE
RETIREMENT AGES
RETIREMENT BEHAVIOR
RETIREMENT DECISION
RETIREMENT DECISIONS
RETIREMENT INCENTIVES
RETIREMENT PLANNING
RETIREMENT SURVEY
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
RURAL AREAS
RURAL COUNTIES
RURAL POPULATION
RURAL RESIDENTS
RURAL WOMAN
RURAL WOMEN
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
SELFEMPLOYMENT
SERVANTS
SKILLED LABOR
SKILLED WORKERS
SMALL ENTERPRISES
SOCIAL INSURANCE
SOCIAL INSURANCE BENEFITS
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM
SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
SPOUSE
SPOUSES
URBAN AREAS
URBAN EMPLOYMENT
URBAN MIGRATION
URBAN POPULATIONS
URBAN WOMEN
URBAN WORKERS
URBANIZATION
WAGE EMPLOYMENT
WAGE INCREASES
WAGES
WORK ACTIVITIES
WORK ACTIVITY
WORK HOURS
WORK IN PROGRESS
WORKER
WORKFORCE
WORKING
WORKING HOURS
WORKING LIFE
WORKPLACE
YOUNG AGE
YOUNG AGES
YOUNG WORKERS
YOUNGER WORKERS
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
Giles, John
Wang, Dewen
Cai, Wei
The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective
geographic_facet East Asia and Pacific
East Asia and Pacific
East Asia
Asia
China
relation Paper is funded by the Knowledge for Change Program (KCP),Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5853
description This paper highlights the employment patterns of China's over-45 population and, for perspective, places them in the context of work and retirement patterns in Indonesia, Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom. As is common in many developing countries, China can be characterized as having two retirement systems: a formal system, under which urban employees receive generous pensions and face mandatory retirement by age 60, and an informal system, under which rural residents and individuals in the informal sector rely on family support in old age and have much longer working lives. Gender differences in age of exit from work are shown to be much greater in urban China than in rural areas, and also greater than observed in Korea and Indonesia. Descriptive evidence is presented suggesting that pension eligible workers are far more likely to cease productive activity at a relatively young age. A strong relationship between health status and labor supply in rural areas is observed, indicating the potential role that improvements in access to health care may play in extending working lives and also providing some basis for a common perception that older rural residents tend to work as long as they are physically capable. The paper concludes with a discussion of measures that may facilitate longer working lives as China's population ages.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Giles, John
Wang, Dewen
Cai, Wei
author_facet Giles, John
Wang, Dewen
Cai, Wei
author_sort Giles, John
title The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective
title_short The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective
title_full The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective
title_fullStr The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective
title_full_unstemmed The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective
title_sort labor supply and retirement behavior of china’s older workers and elderly in comparative perspective
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111024112519
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3619
_version_ 1764387471512043520
spelling okr-10986-36192021-04-23T14:02:11Z The Labor Supply and Retirement Behavior of China’s Older Workers and Elderly in Comparative Perspective Giles, John Wang, Dewen Cai, Wei ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ACCOUNTING AGE DISTRIBUTION AGE POPULATIONS AGE SUPPORT AGING POPULATION AGING POPULATIONS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BLUE COLLAR OCCUPATIONS BULLETIN CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT DEMOGRAPHERS DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT POLICY DISABILITY DISLOCATED WORKERS DISPLACED WORKERS EARLY RETIREMENT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ECONOMIC RESOURCES ECONOMIC STATUS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ELDERLY ELDERLY POPULATION EMPLOYABILITY EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES EMPLOYMENT PATTERNS EMPLOYMENT RATE EMPLOYMENT RATES EMPLOYMENT STATUS EXTENDED FAMILY FAMILY MEMBERS FAMILY SUPPORT FEMALE EMPLOYMENT FEMINIST GENDER DIFFERENCES GENDER DISCRIMINATION GENDER DISPARITY HEALTH INSURANCE HEALTH PROBLEMS HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION HOURS OF WORK HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSEHOLD WEALTH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN RESOURCES HUSBANDS INCOME INFORMAL SECTOR INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFERS INTERNATIONAL POPULATION JOB HISTORY JOB LOSS JOB PLACEMENT JOB SEARCH JOBS LABOR ALLOCATION LABOR ECONOMICS LABOR FORCE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION LABOR INCOME LABOR MARKET LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES LABOR MARKETS LABOR REGULATION LABOR RELATIONS LABOR RESEARCH LABOR SUPPLY LARGE CITIES LAYOFF LEGAL SUPPORT LEVELS OF EDUCATION LIFETIME EARNINGS LOW UNEMPLOYMENT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES MALE COUNTERPARTS MANDATORY RETIREMENT MARITAL STATUS MARRIED COUPLES MARRIED WOMEN MIGRANT MIGRANTS MIGRATION NATIONAL PENSION NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE NUTRITION OLD AGE OLD AGE LABOR SUPPLY OLD-AGE OLDER ADULTS OLDER HUSBANDS OLDER MEN OLDER WOMEN OLDER WORKERS PENSION PENSION BENEFITS PENSION COVERAGE PENSION INCOME PENSION INCOMES PENSION PLAN PENSION PROGRAM PENSION PROGRAMS PENSION SCHEME PENSION SYSTEM PENSION SYSTEMS PENSION WEALTH PENSIONS POLICY DISCUSSIONS POLICY RESEARCH POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER POLITICAL ECONOMY POOR HEALTH POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT POPULATION CENSUS PRESENT EVIDENCE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS PRIVATE TRANSFER PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT PRODUCTIVE WORK PRODUCTIVITY PROGRESS PROVISION OF CARE PUBLIC PENSION PUBLIC SERVICES REEMPLOYMENT CENTERS RESEARCH COMMUNITY RETIREES RETIREMENT RETIREMENT AGE RETIREMENT AGES RETIREMENT BEHAVIOR RETIREMENT DECISION RETIREMENT DECISIONS RETIREMENT INCENTIVES RETIREMENT PLANNING RETIREMENT SURVEY RETIREMENT SYSTEMS RURAL AREAS RURAL COUNTIES RURAL POPULATION RURAL RESIDENTS RURAL WOMAN RURAL WOMEN SELF-EMPLOYMENT SELFEMPLOYMENT SERVANTS SKILLED LABOR SKILLED WORKERS SMALL ENTERPRISES SOCIAL INSURANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE BENEFITS SOCIAL PROTECTION SOCIAL SCIENCES SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS SPOUSE SPOUSES URBAN AREAS URBAN EMPLOYMENT URBAN MIGRATION URBAN POPULATIONS URBAN WOMEN URBAN WORKERS URBANIZATION WAGE EMPLOYMENT WAGE INCREASES WAGES WORK ACTIVITIES WORK ACTIVITY WORK HOURS WORK IN PROGRESS WORKER WORKFORCE WORKING WORKING HOURS WORKING LIFE WORKPLACE YOUNG AGE YOUNG AGES YOUNG WORKERS YOUNGER WORKERS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT This paper highlights the employment patterns of China's over-45 population and, for perspective, places them in the context of work and retirement patterns in Indonesia, Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom. As is common in many developing countries, China can be characterized as having two retirement systems: a formal system, under which urban employees receive generous pensions and face mandatory retirement by age 60, and an informal system, under which rural residents and individuals in the informal sector rely on family support in old age and have much longer working lives. Gender differences in age of exit from work are shown to be much greater in urban China than in rural areas, and also greater than observed in Korea and Indonesia. Descriptive evidence is presented suggesting that pension eligible workers are far more likely to cease productive activity at a relatively young age. A strong relationship between health status and labor supply in rural areas is observed, indicating the potential role that improvements in access to health care may play in extending working lives and also providing some basis for a common perception that older rural residents tend to work as long as they are physically capable. The paper concludes with a discussion of measures that may facilitate longer working lives as China's population ages. 2012-03-19T18:05:40Z 2012-03-19T18:05:40Z 2011-10-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20111024112519 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3619 English Paper is funded by the Knowledge for Change Program (KCP),Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5853 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper East Asia and Pacific East Asia and Pacific East Asia Asia China