Abstract: Coordinating the interests between contemporary and future generations to achieve intergenerational equity is a core issue for sustainable development. In essence， the modern social endowment insurance system is an intergenerational transfer of wealth. Under the influence of its design and population aging， the system is faced with the risk of intergenerational inequity and the unsustainable problems. It is recommended that the intergenerational equity should be regarded as the measurement， key conditions and basic constraints of the systems sustainable development， the intergenerational distribution structure of the social welfare system should be improved， and the intergenerational inequity should be made up through intergenerational compensation in public areas so as to realize its sustainable development.

Key words: intergenerational equity, intergenerational compensation, endowment insurance, sustainable development