Age Discrimination, Personal wellbeing, and Fertility Intentions: Evidence from the 2021 Chinese Social Survey

The decline in fertility rates has emerged as a critical policy challenge for governments worldwide. This paper provides the first empirical analysis of the impact of perceived age discrimination on fertility intentions, leveraging data from the 2021 Chinese Social Survey. We document a significant negative relationship between perceived age discrimination and fertility intentions. Further analysis reveals that individuals who report higher levels of perceived age discrimination face a greater risk of short-term unemployment and experience declines in life expectancy, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. Structural equation modeling indicates that the adverse effect of age discrimination on fertility intentions is primarily mediated through reductions in personal well-being. Subsample analysis shows that, among individuals under 45, men exhibit stronger fertility intentions than women. These findings highlight the broader demographic and economic implications of labor market age discrimination.