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 time, patience, or expertise. First widely reported by mainland media in 2024, the movement has since...