Bridging generations: intergenerational transfers and time use in a changing world

This Special Issue brings together nine papers that examine how families allocate time and money across generations. Spanning aging societies in East Asia to informal settlements in the Pacific, the contributions employ diverse methodological approaches, from natural experiments and policy variation to administrative data linkage and cross-generational panel surveys. The findings converge on a central insight: intergenerational transfers of time and money are not merely cultural practices, but systematic responses to changing economic environments and institutional frameworks. Family decisions are critical to the provision of long-term care, investment in children’s human capital, and the transmission of preferences, opportunities, and well-being across generations. Together, these studies highlight the importance of household economics for understanding and addressing the policy challenges of demographic transition, rising care demands, and the complex interplay between family resources and intergenerational outcomes.