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Inequalities in Kin Death over the Life Course

Wei Chen, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR)
Diego Alburez-Gutierrez, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR)
Emilio Zagheni, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR)

Kin availability and kin loss over the life course are important, but understudied, sources of inequality in human societies. First, relatives provide crucial support in the form of financial and non-financial transfers. Second, exposure to kin death has been linked to negative outcomes in the long term. However, we know very little about the experience of kin death over the entire life course of individuals. Here, we use a unique data source, the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, which includes complete demographic information on a representative sample of the Chinese population, and members of their nuclear and extended families. We document the patterns of kin loss in China across individuals’ life courses and over time. Our results highlight the persistent inequalities in the exposure to kin death in China, especially across socio-economic and ethnic lines.

Keywords: Mortality, Population ageing, Inequality, Life course analysis

See extended abstract.

Presented in Session 174. Socioeconomic Status and Mortality