Changes in living arrangement and familial support for the elderly in Taiwan: 1963-1991

Data From two cross sectional household surveys conducted in 1963 and 1991 in the city of Taipei are used to study the effect of industrialization, ur banization and economic growth on intergenerational co-residence and family support for the elderly. Changes in attitude toward intergenerational livi ng arrangement and financial support from children are also examined enabli ng the assessment of the strength of cultural factors in maintaining people s attitude toward elderly support during a period of rapid economic change. Our results show that intergenerational co-residence has declined signific antly. However, this does not necessarily jeopardize the welfare of the eld erly,as son's increase income transfers to parents, compensating for non co -residence. The study also indicates that attitudinal change in respect of financial support has been much more drastic than that in respect to co-res idence.