Working Paper: 542

Intergenerational Transfers in India: Who Receives
Money and Who Gives Money?

Kinkar Mandal
Lekha Subaiya

 

Abstract

Rural to urban migration, urbanisation, industrialisation and westernisation impacted the strength of family ties and have reduced support from children to parents as well as from parents to children. Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017-18), a nationally representative survey data, were used for this study to examine the monetary transfers between older parents and children in India. With the use of frequency distribution and logistic regression, our analysis shows that money transfers flow in both directions between children and older parents. The proportion of older persons receiving money from children is higher than that of older persons giving to children. Growing age is positively associated with the receipt of money from children. Socio-economic status has a role in explaining variations in money received and given to parents. Having higher wealth or land is positively associated with receiving and giving money. The currently working status of the older person is positively associated with giving money to the children. Older women have a higher probability to receive money exhibiting children possessing altruistic feelings. There are region-specific variations in the giving and receipt of money. Eastern state exhibits a higher per cent of older person receiving money while the northern states show a lower per cent. Simultaneously, Northeast state exhibits higher per cent of the older person giving money while the western states show lower per cent.

 

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