An exploration of the impact of China's delayed retirement on fertility intentions

The current policy of delayed retirement in China is a hot topic, with many focusing on it to observe its potential impacts. This paper examines the mechanism through which China's progressive delayed retirement policy affects household fertility intentions. From the perspective of labor economics, this paper systematically analyzes the policy's dual effects using tools such as budget constraint lines and indifference curves. The study finds that the net effect of the policy on fertility intentions depends on the sophistication of supporting measures. Corresponding countermeasures are proposed: developing inclusive childcare services to fill the gap in intergenerational care, and strengthening policy support such as fertility subsidies, tax incentives, and protection of women's employment rights. This paper addresses the deficiency in existing research on the interaction mechanism between delayed retirement and fertility intentions, providing a theoretical reference for balancing responses to aging and long-term balanced population development.