Adult Child Migration and Elderly Multidimensional Well-Being: Comparative Analysis Between Moldova and Georgia

M. Vanore, M. Siegel, F. Gassmann, J. Waidler*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Despite growing concern over the potential consequences of migration for the “left behind,” few systematic attempts have been made to document the relationship between the migration of an adult child and the well-being of his or her elderly parent(s) remaining in the country of origin. This article proposes a multidimensional elderly well-being index that enables the identification and comparison of outcomes between elderly individuals with and without adult migrant children in Moldova and Georgia, two former Soviet states that are both experiencing demographic and mobility transitions. The outcomes of elderly individuals with and without children living abroad are compared to illustrate in what domains child absence through migration corresponds to differing well-being outcomes. The findings suggest that the migration of an adult child is not as significant a factor in shaping well-being outcomes as would be expected based on past literature; other factors may play much stronger roles in shaping of well-being.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)599-622
Number of pages24
JournalResearch on Aging
Volume40
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

JEL classifications

  • o15 - "Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration"
  • i30 - Welfare and Poverty: General
  • i32 - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
  • j14 - "Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-labor Market Discrimination"

Keywords

  • elderly
  • Georgia
  • migration
  • Moldova
  • multidimensional poverty
  • adult
  • adult child
  • aged
  • article
  • child
  • controlled study
  • female
  • human
  • male
  • migrant
  • outcome assessment
  • poverty
  • wellbeing
  • LABOR MIGRATION
  • ECONOMICS
  • LIFE

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