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Pension Insurance Coverage Problems under Gender and Rural-Urban Differences: An Empirical Study Based on China

Author(s)

Xinran Chen

Affiliation(s)

School of International Business, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, Shandong, China

Abstract

The present study focuses on the relationship between gender and urban-rural differences in pension and health insurance coverage in China. The objective is to explore how gender inequality and urban-rural differences jointly affect the level of social security for individuals, especially rural women, in the context of China's rapid aging. Utilizing the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database, this study employs a range of econometric methods, including the two-way fixed effects model (TWFE) and the regression discontinuity model (RD), to empirically examine the participation rate and coverage level of pension and health insurance. The analysis reveals that the pension coverage rate for males exhibits a marked improvement following their retirement, while the corresponding rate for females does not demonstrate a similar enhancement, thereby underscoring substantial gender disparities. Additionally, the study highlights a pronounced imbalance between urban and rural regions with respect to pension and medical insurance coverage, placing rural residents at a disadvantage in terms of protection level and insurance participation. In light of the aforementioned empirical findings, this study proposes specific policy recommendations to enhance China's social security system and address the existing gender and urban-rural disparities. The primary objective of these recommendations is to contribute to the realization of the overarching goal of "common prosperity." The study contributes to extant theoretical research on gender and urban-rural differences in the pension system by providing data support and a theoretical foundation for the government to formulate more inclusive social security policies.

Keywords

China's Pension; Medical Insurance; Gender Differences; Urban-Rural Differences

References

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