Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stability and Change in Patterns of Intergenerational Transfers in Taiwan

  • Chapter
Allocating Public and Private Resources across Generations

Part of the book series: International Studies In Population ((ISIP,volume 3))

  • 482 Accesses

In this study, we use a unique data set that follows a cohort of more than two thousand Taiwanese older adults over a 10-year period to assess stability in intergenerational transfers. Specifically, we raise two questions in this paper: first, do patterns of transfers in the same family change over time? Second, how are ageing parents’ demographic, social, and economic characteristics associated with changes in the patterns of transfers?

Historically, Taiwan has been a patriarchal society that places a great emphasis on obedience to, and respect for, older family members. Traditionally, adult sons have been expected to bear the major responsibility for regular care and support of their parents. Ageing parents’ coresidence with a married son has been a dominant and preferred living arrangement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Agree, E. M., Biddlecom, A. E., and Valente, T. W. (2005), “Intergenerational transfers of resources between older persons and extended kin in Taiwan and the Philippines.” Population Studies, 59(2):181-195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. (1991), A Treatise on the Family. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckett, M., Goldman, N., Weinstein, M., Lin, I.-F., and Chuang, Y.-L. (2002), “Social environment, life challenge, and health among the elderly in Taiwan.” Social Science and Medicine, 55(2):191-209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, M.-C. (1999), “A longitudinal study on living arrangements of the elderly in Taiwan.” In: Emerg-ing Social Economic Welfare Programs for Aging in Taiwan in a World Context, Chaonan Chen, Albert I. Hermalin, Sheng-Cheng Hu and Hames P. Smith, eds. pp. 43-64. Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica: Taipei, Taiwan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chattopadhyay, A. and Marsh, R. (1999), “Changes in living arrangement and familial support for the elderly in Taiwan: 1963-1991.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 30(3):523-537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, D. and Rank, M. R. (1992), “Inter-vivos transfers and intergenerational exchange.” Review of Economics and Statistics, 74:305-314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggebeen, D. J. (1992), “Family structure and intergenerational exchanges.” Research on Aging, 14(4):427-447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggebeen, D. J. and Dennis P. H. (1990), “Giving between generations in American families.” Human Nature, 1(3):211-232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furstenberg, F. F. Jr., Hoffman, S. D., and Shrestha, L. (1995), “The effect of divorce on intergenerational transfers: New evidence.” Demography, 32(3):319-333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gouldner, A. W. (1960), “The norm of reciprocity: A preliminary statement.” American Sociological Review, 25:161-178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. S. (1980), “A theory of indebtedness.” In: Social Exchange: Advances in Theory and Research, Kenneth J. Gergen, Martin S. Greenberg and Richard H. Willis, eds. pp. 3-26. Plenum Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto, A. (1996), The Gift of Generations: Japanese and American Perspectives on Aging and the Social Contract. Cambridge University Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henretta, J. C., Hill M. S., Li W., Soldo, B. J., and Wolf, D. A. (1997), “Selection of children to provide care: The effect of earlier parental transfers.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 52B:S110-S119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermalin, A. I., Ofstedal, M. B., and Chi, L. (1992), “Kin availability of the elderly in Taiwan: Who is available and where are they?” Population Studies Center Report No. 92-18. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermalin, A. I., Ofstedal, M. B., and Lee, M.-L. (1992), “Characteristics of children and intergenerational trans-fers.” Comparative Study of the Elderly in Asia Research Report No. 92-21, University of Michigan, MI: Ann Arbor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermalin, A. I., Ofstedal, M. B., and Chang, M.-C. (1996), “Types of supports for the aged and their providers in Taiwan.” In: Aging and Generational Relations over the Life Course: A Historical and Cross-Cultural Perspective. Tamara K. Hareven, ed. pp. 400-437. Walter de Gruyter: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, H.-C., Lew-Ting, C.-Y., and Wu, S.-C. (2001), “Age, period, and cohort effects on the attitude toward supporting parents in Taiwan.” The Gerontologist, 41(6):742-750.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M.-L., Lin, H.-S., and Chang, M.-C. (1995), “Living arrangements of the elderly in Taiwan: Qualitative evidence.” Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 10:53-78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.-J., Parish, W. L., and Willis, R. J. (1994), “Sons, daughters, and intergenerational support in Taiwan.” American Journal of Sociology, 4:1010-1041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.-J. and Xiao, Z. (1998), “Children’s support for elderly parents in urban and rural China: Results from a national survey.” Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 13:39-62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lillard, L. A. and Willis, R. J. (1997), “Motives for intergenerational transfers: Evidence from Malaysia.” Demography, 34(1):115-134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, I.-F., Goldman, N., Weinstein, M., Lin, Y.-H., Gorrindo, T., and Seeman T. (2003), “Gender differences in adult children’s support of their parents in Taiwan.” Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(1):184-200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litwak, E. (1985), Helping the Elderly: The Complementary Roles of Informal Networks and Formal System. The Guilford Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, J. R. and Spitz, G. D. (1996), Family Ties: Enduring Relations between Parents and Their Grown Children. Temple University Press: Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGarry, K. and Schoeni, R. F. (1995), “Transfer behavior in the health and retirement study: Measurement and the redistribution of resources within the family.” Journal of Human Resources, 30:S184-S226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pezzin, L. E. and Schone, B. S. (1999), “Parental marital disruption and intergenerational transfers: An analysis of lone elderly parents and their children.” Demography, 36(3):287-297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Republic of China National Statistics. (2006), Available at http://www. stat.gov.tw .

  • Riley, M. W. (1983), “The family in an aging society: A matrix of latent relationships.” Journal of Family Issues, 4:439-454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roan, C. L., Hermalin, A. I., and Ofstedal, M. B. (1996), “Intergenerational contact and support in Taiwan: A comparison of elderly parents’ and children’s reports.” Population Studies Center Report No. 96-36. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, M. (1995), “Stability and change in temporal distance between the elderly and their children.” Demography, 32(1):29-45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, M., Conroy, S. J. Wang, H., Giarrusso R., and Bengtson, V. L. (2002), “Reciprocity in parent-child relations over the adult life course.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 57B(1):S3-S13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soldo, B. J. and Hill, M. S. (1995), “Family structure and transfer measures in the health and retirement study.” The Journal of Human Resources, 30:S108-S137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StataCorp. (2001), Stata Statistical Software: Release 7. 0. College Station, TX: Stata Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, T.-H. and Liu, Y.-H. (1994), “Changes in intergenerational relations in the chinese family: Taiwan’s experience.” In: Tradition and Change in the Asian Family, Lee-Jay Cho and Moto Yada, eds. pp. 319-361. The East-West Center: Hawaii.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taiwan Provincial Institute of Family Planning and Institute of Gerontology University of Michigan. (1989), 1989 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan: Questionnaire and Survey Design. Comparative Study of the Elderly in Asia Research Report No. 1, University of Michigan. MI: Ann Arbor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thibaut, J. W. and Kelley, H. H. (1959), The Social Psychology of Groups. Wiley: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, M., Sun, T.-H., Chang, M.-C., and Freedman, R. (1990), “Household composition, extended kinship, and reproduction in Taiwan: 1965-1985.” Population Studies, 44:217-239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., Simmons, R. L. and Conger, R. D. (1991). “The effects of early family relationships on contemporary relationships and assistance patterns between adult children and their parents.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 46(6):S330-S337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., Hoyt, D. R., and Huck, S. M. (1994), “Early family relationships, intergenerational solidarity, and support provided to parents by their adult children.” Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 49(2):S85-S94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, H. (1996), “The distributive norm of monetary support to older parents: A look at a township in China.” Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58:404-415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Bureau of Health Promotion, Survey Research Centre for Population and Health, Taiwan

    Yu-Hsuan Lin

Authors
  1. I-Fen Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Noreen Goldman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maxine Weinstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yu-Hsuan Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Anne H. Gauthier

  2. Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    C. Y. Cyrus Chu

  3. Stanford University, California, USA

    Shripad Tuljapurkar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lin, IF., Goldman, N., Weinstein, M., Lin, YH. (2007). Stability and Change in Patterns of Intergenerational Transfers in Taiwan. In: Gauthier, A.H., Chu, C.Y.C., Tuljapurkar, S. (eds) Allocating Public and Private Resources across Generations. International Studies In Population, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4481-6_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation