Caught in the Cultural Dilemma—Cohort Differences in Behavioral Reconciliation of Filial Piety in China.

This research employs mixed methodologies to elucidate the impact of Chinese Confucian culture of filial piety on different cohorts of retiring older migrant workers in their saving behaviors for retirement. Based on surveys of 1933 migrant workers and 30 in-depth interviews, the researchers examined the connections between cultural and social factors relevant to retirement saving behaviors. The results uncovered cohort differences in retirement saving behaviors. The oldest cohort (60+) of migrant workers are shown to be caught between the cultural lag of intergenerational cultural transmission—while they fulfilled their duties to save and spend for the young; in their old age, the young is not there to take care of them. The middle cohort (50+) approaching retirement are caught in the dilemma of investing in pension or spending on children. The 40 plus migrant workers are cautiously saving for both self and children. They continue to carry the cultural expectation for filial piety with clear awareness of the unavailability of children. The retirement saving behaviors of migrant workers demonstrate a positive correlation with factors such as social support, peer influence, and optimism regarding retirement. The authors posit that the implementation of social policies to foster awareness and encourage retirement savings among migrant workers should be the strategic approach to mitigate the cultural and structural lag experienced by elderly migrant workers.