With the development of the ageing process and the advancement of new-type urbanization, the size of empty-nest older adults gradually increases. The expansion of the Internet has enabled more older adults to access the Internet. Based on the data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) from 2010 to 2018, this study estimates the age-period-cohort effects and the impacts of Internet use on the health status of empty-nest older adults. The results show that there are period and cohort effects, but not age effects, on the changes in the mental health of empty-nest older adults. However, there are age and period effects, but not cohort effects, on the changes in physical health. Internet use has a significant positive impact on the physical and mental health of empty-nest older adults, mainly through social and learning pathways. The impact of Internet use on the health of empty-nest older adults is greater for those aged 75 and above, as well as for rural empty-nest older adults. Compared to non-empty-nest older adults, there is a greater impact of Internet use on the health of empty-nest older adults. We propose promoting Internet use among the empty-nest older adults and building an age-friendly digital society.

In the context of the irreversible and deepening of population ageing, the focus of the innovative country lies in the technological innovation. This paper uses the mediation model and the panel threshold model to verify the impact of population ageing on labor productivity through technological innovation pathway, and the transitional impact of technological innovation on labor productivity with population ageing as a threshold variable. The findings show that regardless of binding economic conditions, population aging has a mediating effect on labor productivity through technological innovations in addition to directly affecting labor productivity. When population ageing is viewed as a threshold variable, the impact of technological innovations on labor productivity is positive. When control variables are included, the influence of technological innovations on labor productivity becomes negative. The influence of innovations on labor productivity shows varying effects. During the demographic transition of the East area, the effect of technological innovations on labor productivity is in line with the mechanism of technological innovations on economic development.

Labor productivity is a symbolic indicator that determines the potential growth of the regional economy. Under the situation of population ageing, understanding the relationship between the population ageing and labor productivity is very important for understanding the source of economic growth and maintaining sustainable development. We use dynamic panel data models to study the effects of population ageing on labor productivity. It is found that the impact of population ageing on labor productivity varies significantly in different periods. In the short term, the current level of population ageing and the one-period lag level of population ageing have significant different effects on labor productivity. However, the long-term effect of the elderly dependency ratio on labor productivity has been identified to be not significant. At the same time, the relationship between population ageing and labor productivity shows an “Inverted U” shape. The point of elderly dependency ratio for the maximum labor productivity is between 8.65% and 8.79%. The results are quite stable under other indicators of population ageing.