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The Effect of Grandchildren on the Happiness of Grandparents: Does the Grandparent's Child's Gender Matter?

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  • Yamamura, Eiji

    (Seinan Gakuin University)

  • Brunello, Giorgio

    (University of Padova)

Abstract

Using a representative sample from Japan and a difference-in-differences strategy, we investigate whether the effect of having grandchildren on the happiness of grandparents varies with the gender of their (own) single child. In line with our expectations, we find that maternal grandmothers have more to lose or less to gain from having grandchildren than paternal grandmothers. In contrast, grandfathers' changes in happiness do not depend on their own child's gender. This result is explained by the fact that grandmothers are more likely to be involved in child-rearing when their daughter has a child.

Suggested Citation

  • Yamamura, Eiji & Brunello, Giorgio, 2021. "The Effect of Grandchildren on the Happiness of Grandparents: Does the Grandparent's Child's Gender Matter?," IZA Discussion Papers 14081, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14081
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    Cited by:

    1. Eiji Yamamura & Fumio Ohtake, 2023. "Family Structure, Gender and Subjective Well-being: Effect of Child ren before and after COVID 19 in Japan," Papers 2312.04411, arXiv.org.
    2. Eiji Yamamura, 2021. "Granddaughter and voting for a female candidate," Papers 2102.13464, arXiv.org.
    3. Brunello, Giorgio & Yamamura, Eiji, 2021. "With a Little Help from My Mother. The Matrilineal Advantage in European Grand Parenting," IZA Discussion Papers 14379, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    happiness; grandchildren; grandparents; gender differences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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