Generational Interdependencies: The Social Implications for Welfare

“Generational interdependencies” is an interesting and original book that adopts a novel approach to the study of intergenerational relations. The topic of intergenerational exchange of support and its relation to public welfare provision has received considerable attention in the last decades. Nevertheless, Beverly Searle has been able to edit an original volume that not only takes into consideration both the micro and macro level aspects of this topic but also nicely combine the approach of sociological studies with those of economics, geography, social policy and gender studies. Furthermore, the book significantly contributes to this field of study by focusing on the intersection between the analyses of the intergenerational transmission of inequality and housing studies. The attention that the authors have paid to the role of home and homeownership in the transmission of wealth from one generation to the other - and in securing individual’s welfare on the basis of families’ accumulation instead of public provision - has produced a number of findings that will have a considerable impact on how we look at the connection between intergenerational relations, inequality transmission and the future sustainability of the European welfare systems.

Marco Albertini,

Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche e Sociali

Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy