Includes bibliographical references (p. [151]-172) and index.

The story of inheritance: intergenerational giving in aging America -- Trends in wealth transfers -- The aging American family -- The inheritance revolution -- The origins of our inheritance laws -- Early America -- Forging a new path: women and inheritance laws -- Inheritance in modern America -- Family and inheritance changes -- Decisions about inheritance -- The political realities of retirement security -- Who is going to care for us? -- The political economy of giving and receiving -- The legacy of the modern welfare state -- The dilemma -- Employer pension versus personal savings -- Cross-national research -- Dimensions of giving between generations -- The joy of giving -- Theoretical perspectives on money: good versus evil? -- Contemporary studies of money -- Gifts as assistance -- Contextualizing gift giving -- Simply love -- Fellowship for funds -- Giving, not receiving -- The family life cycle and inheritance -- Money memories: narratives of the meaning of giving and receiving -- History lessons -- The silent generation -- Baby boomers -- Expanding obligations equal shrinking inheritances -- Drawing down assets -- Deciding too late or not at all -- Family disagreements -- Background on the interviews -- Early beginnings of family dynamics and money -- Money as a gift -- Money with strings attached -- How money matters -- The costs of wealth -- A guarded secret -- The value of gifts -- Contemporary values and beliefs regarding intergenerational transfers -- It isn't just money -- Family values and ideologies -- Leaving a legacy -- Transferring assets -- Inter vivos exchanges -- Children helping parents -- Choosing inheritance -- Challenges to family ideologies -- To give or not to give, that is the question -- Leaving a legacy: personal security, family obligations, and the state -- The effects of public policy on family gift giving -- How estate taxes vary -- Estate taxes and exemptions -- Estate planning for the family -- Private long-term care insurance -- Estate recovery and related long-term care financing issues -- Inter vivos transfers and inheritance -- The impact of gift giving on the family: what helps? What hurts? -- Myths and realities of making a will -- Inheritance and the next generation of old-age policies -- The new status quo -- Sorting out the debate -- Possible scenarios -- The politics of social security reform -- The face of the future workforce -- Policy options: public, private, and combined -- Health care insecurity -- Implications and conclusions -- Summary and new directions for research -- The demography of gift giving in late life -- Should women worry about their retirement? -- Generational differences: money memories and family ideology -- An agenda for future research -- Appendix A. Methodology -- Appendix B. Questions used in semistructured in-depth interview -- Bibliography -- Index.

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