Survey on Rural Elderly Support in 20 Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities in China

In response to continual growth of the size of China’s rural population and the ongoing population aging process, the government launched the New Rural Pension Pilot Program (NRPP) in September 2009, the scope of which has been expanding nationwide. In order to get a complete picture of rural elderly support and the implementation of the New Rural Pension Scheme (NRPS), we conducted a door-to-door questionnaire survey in 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, including Liaoning province, Beijing and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Analysis of the information collected has allowed us to understand better how the rural pension system can be improved to provide greater social security, how to boost domestic demand and stimulate consumption in rural areas and how to promote economic development and escape the ‘middle-income trap’. As mentioned above, the team responsible for the Institute of Population Research in Liaoning University carried out a door-to-door questionnaire survey in 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China. They are Liaoning, Beijing, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Anhui, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Jiangsu, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia. A total of 1350 effective responses were received. The following is a summary and analysis of the survey.