PURPOSE: To obtain a resin for paper coating, especially capable of improving ink receptivity, pick strength and gloss with good balance and causing hardly any change in viscosity in the case of using the resin as a component of a composition for coating and a composition for paper coating using the same.

CONSTITUTION: This paper coating composition contains a copolymer of acrylic amide and/or methacrylic amide and a specific vinylmonomer or a copolymer of these components, and further, ethylenic unsaturated carboxylic acid or a resin composition obtained by adding a polyalkylene polyamine to the copolymer.