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Upstream Intergenerational Transfers

Author

Listed:
  • Sloan, F.A.
  • Zhang, H.H.

Abstract

This study analyzes upstream intergenerational transfers from middle-ages children to their elderly parents. We formulate a model in which the middle-aged child transfers both money and time to an elderly parent, based on an altruistic motive. We test the altruistic assumption empirically and examine substitution between financial transfers and time transfers using data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS). Empirical results support the assumption that upstream transfers are motivated by altruism, particularly financial transfers. Poor parents receive more money. Overall, the results of time transfers provide less strong support for our model. A child with a high way tends to transfer money rather than time. Our findings on time transfers differ from predictions of models based on exchange motives. Public subsidies of nursing home care crowd out both private financial and time transfers.
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Suggested Citation

  • Sloan, F.A. & Zhang, H.H., 1995. "Upstream Intergenerational Transfers," GSIA Working Papers 1995-27, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:cmu:gsiawp:1995-27
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    2. Siew Ling Yew & Jie Zhang, 2025. "Health externalities to labor productivity and optimal policies with endogenous fertility, labor, and longevity," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 1-42, June.
    3. Didem Bernard & Thomas Selden & Yuriy Pylypchuk, 2016. "The Distribution of Public Spending for Health Care in the United States on the Eve of Health Reform," NBER Chapters, in: Measuring and Modeling Health Care Costs, pages 459-474, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Lei Shao & Jie Zhang, 2024. "Retirement wealth, earnings risks, and intergenerational links," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(4), pages 1494-1519, October.
    5. Jessamyn Schaller & Chase Eck, 2019. "Adverse Life Events and Intergenerational Transfers," Upjohn Working Papers 19-309, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    6. Lefebvre, Mathieu & Pestieau, Pierre & Schoenmaeckers, Jérôme, 2025. "Grandchild care and eldercare. A quid pro quo arrangement," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    7. Edwin Van Gameren & Durfari Velandia Naranjo, 2012. "Working and caring. The simultaneous decision of labor force participation, informal long-term care and childcare services in Mexico," Serie documentos de trabajo del Centro de Estudios Económicos 2012-16, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos.
    8. Costa-Font, Joan & Jiménez-Martín, Sergi & Vilaplana-Prieto, Cristina, 2022. "Do Public Caregiving Subsidies and Supports affect the Provision of Care and Transfers?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Olena Nizalova, 2012. "The Wage Elasticity of Informal Care Supply: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 79(2), pages 350-366, October.
    10. Angelini, Viola & Costa-Font, Joan & Ozcan, Berkay, 2025. "Gifts that Bind," IZA Discussion Papers 17706, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Tamai, Toshiki, 2023. "The rate of discount on public investments with future bias in an altruistic overlapping generations model," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    12. Cheng, Yifan & Yu, Jianyu & Min, Shi & Wang, Xiaobing, 2024. "The effects of land titling on intergenerational transfers in rural China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 228-251.
    13. Rao, Ziwei & Groneck, Max & Alessie, Rob, 2025. "Early-life transfers for education and marriage and children’s old-age support: Time or money?," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    14. Jinkook Lee & Hyungsoo Kim, 2008. "A longitudinal analysis of the impact of health shocks on the wealth of elders," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 21(1), pages 217-230, January.
    15. Jaqueline Oliveira & Amanda Kerr, 2025. "It takes a village: health and old-age support in China," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 897-931, September.
    16. Manon Domingues Dos Santos & François-Charles Wolff, 2010. "Pourquoi les immigrés portugais veulent-ils tant retourner au pays ?," Economie & Prévision, La Documentation Française, vol. 0(4), pages 1-14.
    17. Pascal Belan & Pierre-Jean Messe & François-Charles Wolff, 2010. "Postponing retirement age and labor force participation: the role of family transfers," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 76(4), pages 347-370.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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