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“The Persistence of Parent Repayment” and the Anticipation of Filial Obligations of Care in Two Thai Provinces
Author(s) -
Basten Stuart,
Muttarak Raya,
Pothisiri Wiraporn
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asian social work and policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.286
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1753-1411
pISSN - 1753-1403
DOI - 10.1111/aswp.12028
Subject(s) - life expectancy , anticipation (artificial intelligence) , fertility , pace , demography , population , persistence (discontinuity) , population ageing , demographic economics , economics , geography , sociology , geodesy , artificial intelligence , computer science , geotechnical engineering , engineering
With an accelerated and sustained decline in fertility and an increase in life expectancy, T hailand has entered its aging phase at a rapid pace. This raises an important question of who should care for the increasing elderly population. Using a survey of adults aged 16–64 years ( n = 742) in two provinces in the north‐east ( K alasin) and south ( P hang N ga) of T hailand, this paper explores the expectations that individuals have from their children when they become very old. Only one‐third of the respondents expected to live with their children in old age and only one‐fifth anticipated financial assistance. Less than half of them expected personal care and practical care from their children (43% and 38%, respectively). The expectations varied substantially by the number of children and income, with those with higher income reporting lower expectation. Those living in K alasin, a much poorer province than P hang N ga, had greater expectations from their children in old age. This suggests that, for those with less financial resources, children remain the main care provider for the elderly.