An analysis of changing trends in China's urban and rural households
Zeng, Y.
Chinese Journal of Population Science 2(3): 187-199
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 1044-8403 PMID: 12284984 Document Number: 376851
The changing trends in China's urban and rural households indicate by 1987 that the proportion of nuclear families (68-9%) out of total households are the same for urban and rural areas. The age at marriage in rural areas is now approaching the urban age; i.e, 21.8 years for rural areas and 23.7 years for urban areas in 1986. There is a disparity of only 4 years in life expectancy between areas. The fertility rate (TFR) has remained since 1966 2 times that in urban areas (UAs); i.e., rural TFR is 2.7, townships 2.2, and cities 1.7 of which a certain proportion since 1982 include an agricultural population. The proportion of 3 or more generation families grew by 1/24% and nuclear families grew by .81%. The reasons are that the baby boomers are reflected in the 1987 figures and not the 1982 figures and they remain living with their parents. In agricultural households, there is economic benefit to remaining within the family unit. Even though there has been a TFR rate drop in cities, the tendency for older parents to remain with their offspring has not changed in rural areas. In 1987 the proportion of 3 generation households was the same in 1987 in urban and rural areas. The traditional life table method is used to generate household composition by age and urban or rural status and marital status. When the 1981 age specific marriage rate is used, the expected marriages 20 years is 20% or 28% if the 1986 age specific rates are used. The actual 1987 figures were 24.5%. In urban areas, the 1986 expected rate was 12%, of whom the majority of early marriages are assumed to be among the suburban farmers. The life table reveals information also about parity and the number of surviving children. In 1986 for rural areas, the expected rate for 1 parity during a lifetime is 8%, 47% for 2, and 42% for 3 or more. In cities, the expectation is 61% for 1 parity, 24% for 2, and 11% for 3 or more. Because of low expected parity in the cities, the number of childless elderly is expected to be a fairly high proportion. The length of time that women will have both a surviving older and younger generation is given as well as assumptions about the future household composition. The author concludes that late marriages and childbearing and increases in spacing of birth needs to be promoted in villages. Multiple births need to be prevented. Planned parenthood education and administrative work should continue vigorously. Restrictions need to be placed on illegal early marriage and policies promoted for delay in childbearing until 24-26 years, and child spacing of 5 years. Low fertility in the cities means greater female responsibility for care of young and old.