This research was conducted to determine the life plan of the middle-aged and older Chinese women who have retired in Beijing, and grasp the mode of their retirement, the public medical expenses received under the “socialist” system, and especially the actual economic conditions of the Chinese family on the basis of the results of our investigation in Beijing.
It has become clear that the total expenditure exceeds the total income due to the rise in prices and the improved standard of living, that they are unable to live on their public pension, that the welfare service is insufficient, and that the satisfaction ratio is low in regard to total income.
Although our investigation was conducted only on the retired middle-aged and older women in the capital city, it has become clear that the economic life in China has been changing drastically.