Intergenerational Relations
Research into the concept of intergenerational fairness.
Project aims
To explore whether macro-level intergenerational equity discourses resonate in people’s everyday lives and life course.
The study involved:
- qualitative interviews with 40 people aged 19–85 years
- those living in North-East England and Edinburgh
Project findings
The study revealed the following:
- there is widespread pessimism around young people’s prospects
- there is evidence of a fracturing social contract
- little faith exists in the principles of intergenerational equity, equality and reciprocity – factors upon which welfare states depend
- despite strong family bonds, participants still felt resentment and frustration towards societal-level intergenerational unfairness
- blame for intergenerational inequity was placed on a remote state rather than on older generations
- despite the precariousness of the welfare state, participants of all ages strongly supported the principle of state support
- participants rejected a system based on family wealth and inherited privilege
- rather than increased individualism, participants desired strengthened communities that encouraged greater intergenerational mixing
Project funding
The project was funded by Newcastle University Institute for Ageing and Institute for Social Renewal
The Principal Investigator was:
- Prof Suzanne Moffatt
Research team
- Dr Josephine Wildman
- Dr Anna Goulding
- Professor Thomas Scharf
- Professor Alison Stenning
The project can be located in the following publication:
- Wildman JM, Goulding A, Moffatt S, Scharf T, Stenning A (2021) Intergenerational equity, equality and reciprocity in economically and politically turbulent times: narratives from across generations. Ageing and Society 1-20; doi:10.1017/SO144686X21000052