New Estimates of the “Sandwich Generation” in the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Esther M. Friedman, RAND Corporation

This project uses the new Family Roster and Transfer Module in the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics [PSID] to obtain new estimates of the obligations of the so-called “sandwich generation”. The Family Roster and Transfer Module asks respondents to describe transfers of time and money to parents and children age 18 or over. This poster proposes to describe the obligations of time and money to parents and children of men and women between 35 and 70 years of age. We make three important contributions to the literature on the “sandwich generation”. First, we examine both men and women. Second, we use data on transfers that cover the full spectrum of adult ages. Including younger individuals is crucially important given differences in fertility and life expectancy across race and socio-economic groups. Third, we consider whether members of the “sandwich generation” are also receiving transfers from either parents or children.