›› 2016 ›› Issue (03): 76-84.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Welfare Effects of Parenthood: Influence of number and gender of children to parents' well-being

CHEN Yi-li   

  1. School of Economics, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Chongqing 401120, China
  • Received:2015-02-18 Online:2016-05-15 Published:2016-05-19

Abstract: Children are considered to be able to bring their parents utility but the empirical results are controversial. Whether China's family planning and children's gender would have a significant impact on parents' well-being? Based on the data of Chinese General Social Survey 2008, the study show that whether the one-child parents is not a significant factor affecting parents' happiness, but the girls are more helpful to improve the well-being of their parents compared to boys. These results are the same in the full sample, the rural and urban population, a different level of education, the middle-aged population. However, the number and gender of children have no significant effect on the well-being of young and old parents. The raising costs of fertility, changes in people's reproductive motives and behavior, and gender roles of boy and girl are all related to the conclusion.

Key words: happiness, child, gender, well-being

CLC Number: