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Inter Vivos Health Transfers: Final Days of Japanese Elderly Parents

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  • Shiko Maruyama

    (School of Economics, The University of New South Wales)

Abstract

The empirical evidence of the effect of intergenerational coresidence by elderly parents and their adult children on parental health remains fairly inconclusive. The aim of this paper is twofold: (1) to estimate a reliable coresidence effect and (2) to investigate why the coresidence effect can be negative. I argue that coresidence may worsen parental health, with coresidence burdens on children creating disincentives for parents to invest in their health. Studying Japanese data reveals: (i) an insignificant, negative average treatment effect of coresidence; (ii) a significant, negative treatment effect on the treated; and (iii) that parents with high care needs and limited resources, typically widowed mothers, are in coresidence experiencing the largest negative impact. Results are consistent with the theory predictions. In particular, what leads to the negative coresidence effect is not the base period health status but coresidence burdens, such as disability and dementia.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiko Maruyama, 2012. "Inter Vivos Health Transfers: Final Days of Japanese Elderly Parents," Discussion Papers 2012-20, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
    • Handle: RePEc:swe:wpaper:2012-20
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    File URL: http://research.economics.unsw.edu.au/RePEc/papers/2012-20.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Meliyanni Johar & Shiko Maruyama, 2012. "Externality and Strategic Interaction in the Location Choice of Siblings under Altruism toward Parents," Working Papers 201201, ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales.
    2. Meliyanni Johar & Shiko Maruyama & Sayaka Nakamura, 2015. "Reciprocity in the Formation of Intergenerational Coresidence," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 192-209, June.
    3. Sergi Jiménez‐Martín & Cristina Vilaplana Prieto, 2015. "Informal Care Motivations and Intergenerational Transfers in European Countries," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(S1), pages 89-103, March.
    4. Tosi, Marco & Grundy, Emily, 2018. "Returns home by children and changes in parents’ well-being in Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 99-106.
    5. Courtin, Emilie & Avendano, Mauricio, 2016. "Under one roof: The effect of co-residing with adult children on depression in later life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 140-149.
    6. Sergi Jiménez-Martín & Cristina Vilaplana Prieto, 2013. "Informal Care and intergenerational transfers in European Countries," Working Papers 2013-25, FEDEA.
    7. Zi-qing Yuan & Xian Zheng & Eddie C. M. Hui, 2021. "Happiness Under One Roof? The Intergenerational Co-residence and Subjective Well-Being of Elders in China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 727-765, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intergenerational transfers; health investment; informal care; heterogeneous treatment effects; selection on unobservables; coresidence; structural equations.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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