Intergenerational Family Solidarity

This paper focuses on the provision of help and care to the older generation, comparing the situation of those in Estonia with migrant backgrounds to those with nonmigrant backgrounds. The empirical evidence suggests that, in the case of Estonia, the main factor determining attenuated family solidarity is proximity between family members. Thus, mainly first-generation migrants whose parents live more than 100 km away are at risk from weakened family bonds. The analysis points out significant gender differences, where men are more often deprived of help and emotional support. More relations of solidarity in migrant families where different generations move together are assumed, but the empirical evidence for this conjecture is far from conclusive.