MORTALITY DECLINE IN THE 20TH-CENTURY AND SUPPLY OF KIN OVER THE LIFE-COURSE

Declining mortality over the Twentieth Century has altered the supply of older relatives in the kin networks of persons at all stages of lif e. Mortality decline has also changed the supply of kin for older pers ons. Using period life tables for selected years between 1900 and 2000 , I calculate the proportion of persons who, at various stages of the life course, would have grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings and c hildren still living. The results draw attention to the unprecedented potential for kinship ties involving older persons afforded by contemp orary high survival rates.