The intergenerational impact of pension reforms: How grandmothers’ pension eligibility affects daughters’ fertility

Abstract

This paper provides causal evidence on how changes in pension eligibility for women influence maternal grandmothers’ capacity to provide informal childcare and their daughters’ fertility decisions. Leveraging an Australian reform that raised the pension eligibility age by seven years, we show that the reform significantly increased the likelihood of grandmothers delaying retirement, thereby reducing their ability to provide childcare. As a result, we observe a decline in fertility rates among their daughters, particularly in lower-wealth households where financial constraints are more pronounced. Our findings highlight the intergenerational impacts of pension reform, revealing a clear link between grandmothers’ pension eligibility and fertility outcomes in the next generation.