Is the Eldest Son Different? The Residential Choice of Siblings in Japan

Midori Wakabayashi and Charles Y. Horioka

No 12655, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the determinants of the living arrangements (coresidence behavior) of elderly parents and their children (whether elderly parents live with their children, and if so, with which child) in Japan using micro data from a household survey. Our results provide support for all four explanations of coresidence behavior but especially for the life cycle and dynasty models (both of which assume selfishly motivated parents) and social norms and traditions: The fact that parents who were self-employed before retirement are more likely to live with their children, the fact that parents are less likely to live with sons who adopt their wife's surname, and the fact that parents are more likely to live with daughters whose husbands adopt their surname constitute evidence in favor of the dynasty model. The fact that parents who were (relatively wealthy) executives before retirement and parents who are homeowners are more likely to live with their children and the fact that parents are more likely to live with less educated children constitute evidence in favor of the selfish life cycle model (or the altruism model). And the fact that parental attitudes toward their children affect their coresidence behavior, the fact that parents are more likely to live with their eldest child if their eldest child is a son, and the fact that parents are most likely to live with their eldest son even if he is not the eldest child constitute evidence in favor of social norms and traditions.

JEL-codes: D12 D91 J14 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-soc and nep-ure
Note: AG CH
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

Published as Wakabayashi, Midori & Horioka, Charles Yuji, 2009. "Is the eldest son different? The residential choice of siblings in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 337-348, December.

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Journal Article: Is the eldest son different? The residential choice of siblings in Japan (2009)
Working Paper: Is the Eldest Son Different? The Residential Choice of Siblings in Japan (2006)
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