The analysis in this article is based on micro data sets of the Chinese
2000, 1990, and 1982 censuses. The percentage of three-generation
family households in 2000 increased considerably as compared to 1990
and 1982; the proportion of two-generation nuclear family households
substantially dropped by about 17% in 2000 as compared to 1990. Such
change, however, does not mean that Chinese families are returning to
the more traditional structure. This is mainly caused by the demographic
effects: given that most old parents still live with one married child
(although declining), generations born after the early 1970s who havemuch fewer siblings have a smaller chance of moving out of the parental
home to form an independent nuclear family household when they reach
the family formation stage. In fact, the one-person and one-couple-only
households have been increasing quickly; average household size
decreased significantly; the proportions of elderly who did not live with
children and elderly-couple only households substantially increased in
2000 as compared to 1990. We conclude that the family transformation in
contemporary China was caused by the tremendous fertility decline and
by significant changes in social attitudes and economic mobility related
to co-residence between old parents and adult children.