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Why do Chinese retire early? Analyzing the Social, Economic, and Policy Factors

While the Western world often celebrates the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement as a personal choice, in China, early retirement is influenced by a different and more complex set of factors, including historically low state-mandated retirement ages. The reasons behind the trend of why Chinese retire early involve a mix of historical policy, cultural expectations, economic shifts, and a growing grassroots desire for a different life outside the competitive 'rat race'.