The effects of rural-urban migration on intergenerational financial transfer in China: A gender-based perspective *

Abstract

Rural-urban migration produces a dramatic shift from the traditional norms of female migrants and is very likely to change the traditional pattern of old-age support in the patrilineal rural society. Using data from a survey Shenzhen Rural-urban Migrants 2005 the paper analyzes the relationship between gender of married migrants and their provision of financial support to their noncoresiding parents after migration. The results show that after migration females are likely to give their parents-in-law more financial support but both male and female migrants provide more financial support to their natal parents. This suggests that the traditional pattern of old-age support is still dominant but out-migration of rural females tends to shrink the gender difference. The article also discusses how these findings relate to current and future problems of old-age security and son preference in rural China in relation to the process of rural-urban migration. (authors)