Abstract

In most countries of Western Europe wide differences in wealth between different age groups may be noted. Both the elderly and the middle-aged of today have accumulated wealth in a favourable economic climate, concurrently with a strong expansion of pension schemes. Against this background of major disparities between age groups, theories have been put forward that it provides fertile ground for conflicts between generations. We question whether this is the case. Using data from Norway, we describe wealth distribution between households, the extent of transfers to support the establishment and education of children, the extent of giving advancement of inheritance, the significance of ordinary inheritance and people's attitudes to intergenerational transfers. Our conclusion is that economic disparities between the generations can be expected to lead to greater cohesion between generations within the individual family rather than to general conflicts between generations.