Between-sibling inequality in inheritances : The role of long-term intergenerational exchanges and patrilineality in South Korea

Objective: This study examines between-sibling inequality in inheritances and investigates whether receiving a larger share of the inheritance is associated with intergenerational exchanges (financial, instrumental, or emotional) or patrilineal factors (gender, birth order, and marital status).Background: Literature on inheritances in Western countries has mainly emphasized the role of intergenerational exchanges. On the other hand, son preference has traditionally been an obstacle to gender equality in Asian countries with patrilineal traditions. This study seeks to integrate the two perspectives and investigate the potential interplay between exchanges and patrilineality.Method: Seven waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing spanning twelve years are used to estimate the associations between unequal inheritances, intergenerational exchanges and patrilineal factors, through regressions with family fixed effects. The study introduces three improvements over prior studies: a) broad measurement of intergenerational exchanges covering financial, instrumental, and emotional support, b) accounting for long-term intergenerational exchanges, and c) testing for interactions between exchanges and patrilineality.Results: Eldest sons receive the lion’s share in family inheritances, regardless of whether they provide caregiving to their parents. On the other hand, eldest daughters’ inheritances are significantly associated with their caregiving activities. Conclusion: First-born sons are unconditionally entitled to larger inheritances while first-born daughters may have to earn their share through caregiving, highlighting the complex interplay between intergenerational exchanges and patrilineal traditions in modern Korea. Future studies should continue to chart changing social norms in relation to the caregiving needs of older adults in rapidly aging societies