This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of 21st century families in Britain through an exploration of intergenerational relationships. Drawing on new and extensive quantitative and qualitative research, the authors explore the giving and receiving of financial gifts. Despite growing concern about intergenerational tension and even possible conflict, the book finds evidence of a significant degree of intergenerational solidarity both within families at the micro level and between generations more generally within society at the macro level in Britain. However, given substantial inequalities within different generations as a result, in particular, of social class divisions, some families are able to support each other far more than others.  This means that strong intergenerational solidarity may lead to the entrenchment of existing intragenerational inequalities.

Karen Rowlingson is Professor of Social Policy and Deputy Director of CHASM (Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management) at the University of Birmingham, UK.

Ricky Joseph is Research Fellow at CHASM at the University of Birmingham, UK.

Louise Overton is Teaching Fellow in the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham, UK.