Coping with population ageing in mainland China

ABSTRACT In reviewing the major factors driving the ageing process in mainland China, this commentary argues that population ageing itself is neither good nor bad. Instead, the main obstacles to dealing with the challenges of aging in China are not only ‘being old before being rich' but also ‘being not ready to get old.' The commentary discusses how China's shrinking labour force coupled with an ageing population may be partially offset by improvement in labour quality, development of new technology and upgrading economic structures. It examines the importance of family and social support systems in coping with the challenges of ageing, particularly in the field of long term care. It concludes that while there is a wealth of international experience that China can draw from, solution should also be solidly based on the country’s own development reality.