China’s New Empty Nest

China’s New Empty Nest and rethinking the meaning of family in China:

Family is the bedrock of Chinese society, at least in theory. But three decades of gut-wrenching change are testing those old bonds. More kids than ever are leaving their hometowns—even the country—in search of jobs. This generation is the first to grow up under the one-child policy, rolled out in 1979. They are “more likely to be spoiled and self-centered,” says demographics expert Cai Feng. “As adults, children of this generation lack the inclination to support their parents.” Forty-two percent of Chinese families in 2005 consisted of an old couple living alone, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

It’s amazing how relatively quickly a government policy can reshape family behavior (see also Spain’s quickie and temporary divorces). 

In the aftermath of the one-child policy, more Chinese prefer daughters as they are more loyal (an improvement) while elderly couples are adopting middle-aged “children” to provide them the company they miss with their own (”We’re not looking for a maid, but someone to be with us until we’re dead”).