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Grandparental transfers and kin selection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2010

Raymond Hames
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588. [email protected]://www.unl.edu/rhames

Abstract

In the analysis of intergenerational transfer, several improvements can be made. First, following kin selection theory, grandparents have kin other than grandchildren in which to invest and therefore any investigation into grandparents should take this perspective. Secondly, how transfers actually enhance the survivorship of younger relatives such as grandchildren must be better measured, especially in the ethnographic literature. Finally, the problem of indirect investments or targeting must be considered.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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