Research on the Impact of the Number of Children on the Basic Endowment Insurance Benefits of Urban Female Employees

Ruo Xu; Guangbo Ma

doi:10.54691/bgj8gd14

Authors

Ruo Xu School of Finance and Public Administration, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu 233030, Anhui, China
Guangbo Ma School of Finance and Public Administration, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu 233030, Anhui, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/bgj8gd14

Keywords:

Number of Children; Urban Female Employees; Basic Endowment Insurance; Benefit Level.

Abstract

With socioeconomic shifts and a rapidly aging population, pension replacement rates have become a pretty big deal-they shape not only the quality of life for retirees but also broader social stability. In this study, we bring together insights from social insurance and demography, drawing on CFPS data to explore how the number of children affects the basic pension benefits of urban female employees. We start by walking through the theoretical logic: how childbearing can disrupt women’s career paths, shorten their contribution years, and lower their contribution bases. Then we put those ideas to the test with an empirical model, comparing pension outcomes across different family sizes.What we find is striking: having more children generally drags down women’s pension levels, mainly because career interruptions and occupational constraints take a real toll on their contribution capacity. But this effect isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all-it varies quite a bit across income brackets and regions. On the flip side, sensible childcare support and a more gender‑equal job market can help cushion the negative impact. Taken together, our results offer concrete evidence on the fertility‑pension link, and they also point toward practical ways to refine the pension system and strengthen fertility‑friendly policies along the way.

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