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. 2020 Aug 17;17(16):5956.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165956.

Understanding Aging Policies in China: A Bibliometric Analysis of Policy Documents, 1978-2019

Yan Nan  1 , Tieying Feng  1 , Yuqun Hu  1 , Xinzhu Qi  1
Affiliations

Understanding Aging Policies in China: A Bibliometric Analysis of Policy Documents, 1978-2019

Yan Nan et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Aging poses a big challenge in all aspects of social governance in China. A coherent and focused aging policy response that spans multiple sectors of government has been undertaken to achieve the goal of "Healthy Aging". From an historical perspective, this paper uses a bibliometric analysis method to probe into the evolution of Chinese aging policies from 1978 to 2019, and the roles of core government agencies in policy-making. We obtained 226 Chinese aging policies from the PKULaw Database and the websites of the government departments. Co-word analyses and network analyses were applied in mapping the topics of aging policies and collaboration among the agencies. Gephi software was used to visualize the most frequently used keywords and their network graphs. Findings are as follows. Firstly, the development of the aging policy system in China has undergone two phases, from focusing on basic security to emphasizing the rights and health of the elderly. Secondly, the network structure of aging policy-making departments presents a distinct edge-core layer. More and more government agencies have become involved in the formulation of aging policies. But collaboration among the agencies is insufficient. Thirdly, pilot promotion is the main tool for implementing aging policies.

Keywords: aging; bibliometric analysis; policy evolution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phases and time distribution of China’s aging policies, 1978–2019.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Keyword network of aging policies during Phase 1 (1978–1999) in China.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Keyword network of aging policies during Phase 2 (2000–2019) in China.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Network of aging policy-making departments during Phase 2 (2000–2019) in China.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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