dc.contributor.author
Piper, Alan
dc.date.accessioned
2021-02-03T12:50:04Z
dc.date.available
2021-02-03T12:50:04Z
dc.identifier.uri
https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/29475
dc.identifier.uri
http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/refubium-29219
dc.description.abstract
This study is an empirical investigation of the empty nest syndrome, commonly
understood as a situation where there are feelings of loss or loneliness for mothers and/or fathers following the departure of the last child from the family home. This investigation makes use of rich, longitudinal, nationally representative German data to assess whether there is evidence for such a syndrome. Furthermore, the analysis considers the role of two key economic variables: consumption and leisure via the standard economic concept of utility maximisation. The analysis highlights a conflict between what economic theory predicts - more disposable income and a gain of
leisure time - and the psychological (and cultural) notion of the lonely, sad empty nester. This conflict is an empirical question and here it is resolved via an assessment of the change in life satisfaction that is reported when parents become empty nesters. Importantly, this investigation also tracks what the last child leaving the household goes on to do: The found reduced life satisfaction seems to be wholly moderated if the last child leaves the nest for the purposes of education, but not if for purposes of employment.
en
dc.format.extent
22 Seiten
dc.rights.uri
http://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/refubium/rechtliches/Nutzungsbedingungen
dc.subject
Life Satisfaction
en
dc.subject
Subjective Well-being
en
dc.subject
Empty Nest Syndrome
en
dc.subject.ddc
300 Sozialwissenschaften::330 Wirtschaft::330 Wirtschaft
dc.title
An economic analysis of the empty nest syndrome
dc.identifier.urn
urn:nbn:de:kobv:188-refubium-29475-0
dc.title.subtitle
What the leaving child does matters
refubium.affiliation
Wirtschaftswissenschaft
refubium.resourceType.isindependentpub
yes
refubium.series.issueNumber
2021,4 : Economics
refubium.series.name
Discussion paper / School of Business & Economics
dcterms.accessRights.dnb
free
dcterms.accessRights.openaire
open access