Remnants of kin : three essays on kin loss

Abstract

This dissertation examines kinship loss, its impact on socioeconomic trajectories, and kinship composition in Sweden through three empirical studies. Chapter 2 sheds light on the labor market implications of sibling bereavement, documenting an 8% reduction in survivors' gross earnings. This finding highlights the importance of siblings as a resource that affects labor market outcomes. Chapter 3 examines the timing of retirement, a pressing concern in the context of an aging population. The study contributes by incorporating kin loss, a previously neglected event, into retirement models. The chapter reveals the extent to which the death of a family member accelerates retirement, highlighting the profound influence of family ties and gendered relationship dynamics on important life course decisions. Chapter 4 analyzes the kinship networks of migrants, primarily from the Global South, and highlights the unique challenges posed by their often geographically dispersed and transnational family ties. Using sophisticated microsimulation forecasting techniques, I find a "double burden" for future elderly migrants, characterized by economic vulnerability and a lack of informal caregiving support. This chapter compares the availability of family support and economic resources between native and migrant elders, highlighting the uneven distribution of kin. Overall, the dissertation highlights the role of kinship in shaping economic outcomes and the availability of kinship resources. This is a call for policymakers to create nuanced social policies that are sensitive to the complex fabric of kinship amidst changing demographics.