Abstract
Public attitudes towards welfare have long been central to welfare state theory. This study examines the evolving public perceptions regarding the allocation of eldercare responsibilities between the state and family in China. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey spanning 2010–2021, we analyze age, period, and birth cohort effects on public attitudes towards eldercare. Our findings indicate that as individuals age, there is a growing preference for government responsibility in eldercare, highlighting the role of self-interest in shaping welfare attitudes. Notably, attitudinal shifts across birth cohorts deviate from the modernization hypothesis, revealing a tendency among those born in the 1970s and 1980s to view eldercare as a family obligation. Over the last decade, public attitudes towards eldercare have oscillated from an initial embrace of modern perspectives to a return to traditional views, potentially due to demographic pressures on the pension system. This study not only fills empirical gaps in the field but also carries significant policy implications for China’s evolving eldercare landscape.
Published Version
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