The proposed research models the transfer of care from parents to their parents as a demonstration effect. A child's conduct is conditioned by the parents' example; if parents care for parents and children observe and learn from this behavior, then children are more likely to transfer care to their own parents in the future. The model is well-linked to concepts in behavioral psychology, sociology, and economics and generates new insights and testable hypotheses concerning intergenerational transfers. These hypotheses will be tested using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), and the Asset and Health Dynamics (AHEAD) Survey.
