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Towards Intergenerational Sustainability: Extended Self-Interest and Older Adults’ Support for Childcare Policy

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  • Suk Eun

    (Department of Social Welfare, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

(1) Background: This study investigates whether older adult individuals support childcare policies not only out of altruism, but also due to extended self-interest arising from intergenerational co-residence. It challenges the conventional view that welfare attitudes are shaped solely by one’s own life-cycle needs. (2) Methods: Using the 2013 and 2016 waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach compares attitudes toward government childcare spending between older adults living with children (Co-residing Older Adults) and those who do not (Non-co-residing Older Adults), before and after universal childcare policies were introduced in 2013. (3) Results: The Co-residing Older Adults consistently expressed stronger support for family policies than their counterparts. However, this support did not significantly increase after the 2013 reform, indicating that extended self-interest may not be sensitive to short-term policy changes. (4) Conclusions: Extended self-interest appears to be a stable orientation shaped by family context rather than a flexible, policy-reactive stance. These findings highlight the role of intergenerational household ties in shaping welfare attitudes and offer implications for fostering generational solidarity in aging societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Suk Eun, 2025. "Towards Intergenerational Sustainability: Extended Self-Interest and Older Adults’ Support for Childcare Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6771-:d:1709862
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Uhlenberg, 2009. "Children in an Aging Society," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(4), pages 489-496.
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