The better future projections the more childbirth: the association between subjective social status and fertility desire of the Chinese population

Previous research has detailed how social status affects the willingness to have children. However, subjective social status (SSS) derived from a comparison with a reference group also has an important impact on fertility desire. This study explores the relationship between the past, present, and future SSS and fertility desire, using data from the Chinese General Social Survey, a nationally representative population survey conducted in 2017 (N= 4,864). The study found that the individual's fertility desire is positively enhanced by the current SSS, the expected SSS in the future, and the upward trend of SSS throughout the course of life. Compared with the group with a low level of SSS and with little change in SSS, the fertility desire of the group with "Rising first and then stable" SSS and "Rising" SSS significantly increased. The results suggest that the expectation of positive changes in social status will stimulate fertility desires and produce long-term family plans. With the rapid development of China's social economy and the positive response to the low fertility rate, social policies should be adopted to open up channels for the protection and improvement of the social status of citizens and to achieve an increase of fertility desire.