Migration Matters: Insights into Intergenerational Solidarity Patterns in Europe

Abstract

Intergenerational transfers of money, time, and space are important manifestations of functional solidarity in contemporary societies. Whereas previous studies have mainly addressed the causes and consequences of intergenerational support of natives, the population of foreign origin has often been neglected or limited to a specific (ethnic) population. Therefore, this study focuses on intergenerational functional solidarity patterns between migrants and natives as well as within migrant families using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Overall, the empirical analyses prove that European families are strongly connected by different forms of functional solidarity. However, migration does matter. In addition to differences between natives and migrants, the analyses also highlight specific patterns within migrants according to household composition, duration of stay, and country of origin.