Africana Studies: Intergenerational Support and Old Age in Africa (PDF)

In most societies of the world, including in Africa, re- sponsibility for the material support of older people unable to sustain themselves through work or investments originally resided with their younger generational family members--especially their adult children. Aboderin explores this topic specifically for Africa.

In the wake of social or economic change, societies experience shifts in the degree to which families support their elders. Questions about the proper balance of family and state responsibility, however, persist, especially in light of socio-demographic trends and constraints in public expenditure. In most of sub-Saharan Africa, in contrast to other world regions, economic security policies for older people have not yet been formulated, despite declines in material family support along with rising poverty to which a growing elderly population is exposed. In part, this betrays the crucial lack of understanding about how and why these shifts in support have occurred in African societies--and, thus, a profound uncertainty about what balance of individual, family, and state responsibilities will be culturally appropriate and effective in ensuring economic security for older Africans both now and in the future. Aboderin aims to address these gaps in understanding. She provides an empirical and theoretical analysis of the micro and macro level processes that have underpinned recent declines in old age family support in African societies and likely parameters of future familial support. She also addresses more fundamental theoretical questions about how we should think about the relationships between intergenerational support, norms and values, and societal change.

Intergenerational Support in Africa will be of interest to students of African studies, economic policy and theory concerning eldercare, sociology, and social welfare development.