Young Chinese hire ‘life stand-ins’ to cook and care for elderly parents amid booming trend
From cooking and attending hospital visits to doing the actual quarrelling, paid “life stand-ins” are stepping in to manage these tasks, along with errands and awkward moments that many young Chinese would rather avoid. This trend, known as the “stand-in economy,” is gaining traction among time-strapped consumers who are willing to pay for convenience when daily responsibilities exceed their…
The "stand-in economy" is a growing trend in China, with paid "life stand-ins" providing assistance with daily tasks for busy young adults. This market has expanded rapidly since being first reported in 2024 by mainland media. Customers can hire professionals to cook meals, assemble items, handle emotional support, and even engage in virtual arguments.
Prices for these services range from 10 to 1,000 yuan, depending on the task's complexity and required labor. Some users hire stand-ins to take out the trash or manage delivery drop-offs, while others pay for an entire month's worth of errands or daily meals. The trend is being facilitated by online platforms, with postings garnering millions of views.
However, the informal nature of these transactions raises concerns about potential fraud, privacy invasion, and difficulty in resolving disputes when services don't meet expectations. Economists view this as an extension of China's "lazy economy" and note its potential to improve personal well-being and efficiency while creating new jobs.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
