Intergenerational relations in Luxembourg: Solidarity, ambivalence and conflicts?

The aim of our project was to measure the importance of intergenerational solidarity in Luxembourg and compare this country with other European countries. Using data from quantitative surveys collected in Luxembourg between 2002 and 2009, we have pursued three specifics aims: 1) draw a portrait of family network that residents of Luxembourg were likely to assist and/or that they could potentially mobilize in case of need; 2) examine the actual importance of the various forms of solidarity between generations; and 3) assess the quality of intergenerational relations.

The investigation of quality intergenerational relations was realized using the perspective of the theories of conflict and ambivalence. The aim pursued was to assess to what extent the Luxembourg residents had harmonious (or conflicting) relations with members of their immediate family (parents, children), and to measure the level of satisfaction of residents according to the solidarity they had towards their family members. We were interested in three dimensions of solidarity more particularly: structural, associative and functional dimensions.
These objectives have been met by analyzing data from three quantitative surveys collected in Luxembourg between 2002 and 2009. The first survey, realized in 2002 as part of the socio-economic panel of households Liewen zu Lëtzebuerg (PSELL-2/2002), had a section on inter-generational financial transfers and questioned almost 3000 households and nearly 6000 individuals. The second survey data was collected in 2008, questioning 1610 residents in Luxembourg in the framework of European Values Study (EVS). This data gave us information about the level of importance of family values, the level of adherence to standards of family obligation (duty of parents regarding adult children, duty of children regarding elderly parents, filial love, etc.) and the importance of the services offered to members of the family. Designed and collected specifically for this research, the third survey conducted in 2009 as part of socio-economic panel of household Liewen zu Lëtzebuerg (PSELL-3/2009) among 4000 households and more than 11000 people, informed us on the size and structure of the resident’s families, the level of adherence to standards of family obligations and the principles of justice (need, auto-fulfilment and reciprocity), the various dimensions of intergenerational solidarity, implicit support and the quality of intergenerational relationships.

Our research reveals several interesting results on intergenerational solidarity in Luxembourg. Four elements emerge in particular: 1) the importance of the family value and standards of family obligation in Luxembourg; 2) the vitality of intergenerational solidarity and its diversity of forms; 3) the always gendered nature of intergenerational solidarity; and 4) the positive judgment posed by residents on their intergenerational relationships. However, from these outcomes emerge some limits of solidarity which could become problematic for the social cohesion of Luxembourg, if we seek to transfer to families a bigger part of the responsibilities currently ensured by welfare state. These limits are 1) the unequal distribution of the exercise of solidarity by gender in a context of increased working women; 2) the unequal nature of solidarity between families on one side and social classes on the other side; and 3) the strong correlation between solidarity and geographical proximity.