The Myth of Generational Conflict: The Family and State in Ageing Societies (Studies in European Sociology)

The ageing of Western societies has provoked extensive sociological debate, surrounding both the role of the state and whether it can afford the cost of an ageing population, and the role of the family, especially women, in supporting older people. In this important book, the authors examine how changes, such as cuts in welfare provision, migration, urbanization and individualisation influence intergenerational relations. The collection addresses theoretical and policy issues connecting age and generation with the family and social policy, and focuses both on cross-cultural comparison within societies and analysis based on a range of societies. This edited collection brings together a range of leading researchers and theorists from across Europe to advance a sociological understanding of generational relations, in terms of the state and the family and how they are interlinked. It will be of interest to academics and researchers in sociology, social policy and ageing, and to policy makers concerned with the implications of demographic and policy changes. This Collection Brings Together A Range Of Leading Researchers And Theorists From Across Europe To Advance A Sociological Understanding Of Generational Relations, In Terms Of The State And The Family And How They Are Interlinked. Authors Examine How Changes, Such As Cuts In Welfare Provision, Migration, Urbanization And Individualisation Influence Intergenerational Relations. Equity And Solidarity Across The Generations / Claudine Attias-donfut And Sara Arber -- The Redistributive Effects Of Generational Transfers / Claudine Attias-donfut And François-charles Wolff -- Complementarity Between Private And Public Transfers / Claudine Attias-donfut And François-charles Wolff -- Wealth Distribution Between Generations : A Source Of Conflict Or Cohesion? / Lars Gulbrandsen And Åsmund Langsether -- Families Apart? : Intergenerational Transfers In East And West Germany / Martin Kohli, Harald Künemund, Andreas Motel, And Marc Szydlik -- Generational Relations And The Law / Marjatta Marin -- Discontinuous Change And Generational Contracts / Henk Becker -- Gender, The Generational Contract And Pension Privatisation / Jay Ginn And Sara Arber -- Trail-blazers And Path-followers : Social Reproduction And Geographical Mobility In Youth / Gill Jones -- The Transmission Of Life Stories From Ethnic Minority Fathers To Their Children : A Personal Resource To Promote Social Integration / Catherine Delcroix -- Reinventing The Generational Contract : Anticipated Care-giving Responsibilities Of Young Germans And Turkisk Migrants / Dagmar Lorenz-meyer And Angela Grotheer -- Continuity And Change : The Family And Community Life Of Older People In The 1990s / Miriam Bernard, Judith Phillips, Chris Phillipson And Jim Ogg. Edited By Sara Arber And Claudine Attias-donfut. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Preliminaries......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 9 List of Contributors......Page 11 1 Equity and solidarity across the generations......Page 14 2 The redistributive effects of generational transfers......Page 35 3 Complementarity between private and public transfers......Page 60 4 Wealth distribution between generations......Page 82 5 Families apart?......Page 101 6 Generational relations and the law......Page 113 7 Discontinuous change and generational contracts......Page 127 8 Gender, the generational contract and pension privatisation......Page 146 9 Trail-blazers and path-followers......Page 167 10 The transmission of life stories from ethnic minority fathers to their children......Page 187 11 Reinventing the generational contract......Page 203 12 Continuity and change......Page 222 Index......Page 242 The collection addresses theoretical and policy issues connecting age and generation with the family and social policy. It focuses both on cross-cultural comparison within societies and analysis based on a range of societies.