The balance of benefit: a review of intergenerational transfers in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the financial and nonfinancial transfers taking place intergenerationally and between older people and the community.


METHODS
Secondary data were used in the analysis and discussion to provide an overview of the Australian context.


RESULTS
Within the public arena, governments provide major financial contributions through money transfers and the provision of residential support. Older people provide considerable community support by undertaking voluntary services. This article concludes that the balance of benefit is difficult to determine; however, in terms of public expenditure older people are major recipients. Within the family, the balance of benefit is reversed. Older people are major monetary contributors to adult children and their families in the transition to an independent status. Older people are also the principal carers of their frail-aged partners, thus reducing both the burden of care on their adult children and government institutions.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis reported here has major implications for the development of policy and structural change and for reducing negative stereotypes of dependency in old age.
Legge
V
V
School of Behavioural and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. V.Legge@cchs.usyd.edu.au
O'Loughlin
K
K
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D012922:Social Change; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D014838:Volunteers