Intergenerational relations and family size: Do siblings matter?

Abstract

The increasing number of elderly people as well as their increasing proportion present a challenge for most modern societies (cf. Kohli 1989), especially with respect to the cost of pension and health care systems. The aging of populations is mainly caused by a decline in the average number of children within families. Additionally, people — on average — are living longer than ever before. This leads to family structures recently described as “beanpole families” (Giarrusso, Silverstein & Bengtson 1996), i.e. families “with strikingly similar numbers in each age category starting from children and adolescents through those above the age of 60” (Bengtson 2001: 5). More dramatic prospects even assume a development towards a reversed pyramid or funnel structure, where — in the case of a divorce — four or more grandparents try to care for one single grandchild. The impact of these changes in family structure on family solidarity — and especially on support for the aged parents — is therefore another very important question in the context of the aging of populations. Do those with one single child receive less support in old age? Or does this simply mean heavier responsibility for these “Single children”? Is there a decline in family solidarity in general? And what about the role of the state in the public-private mix of old age care — are there new demands and additional costs to await?

We would like to thank Martin Kohli for his influential — although at times hidden — contributions to this paper. He has an unfailing intuition for a good question and a critical eye for whether the evidence supports the claims we make.