Abstract
As innovations in medical technology extend average longevity, grandparents become increasingly present during the lives of their grandchildren. We propose a theory that seeks to explain differential investment in grandchildren. The theory relies on a fundamental assumption of uncertainty reduction to explain why grandparents in post-industrial societies might find it rational to invest in at least one of their grandchildren. We advance numerous illustrative hypotheses about end of life uncertainty, as well as proportional and differential investments in grandchildren, and discuss the relevance of existing empirical literature.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Rational Choice Sociology |
| Subtitle of host publication | Essays on Theory, Collective Action and Social Order |
| Publisher | Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. |
| Pages | 53-85 |
| Number of pages | 33 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781789903256 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781789903249 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
Keywords
- Elder care
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Intergenerational transfer
- Rational choice
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences