Older Vietnamese productivity and the intergenerational contract

Thesis

This study explores the nature of productive ageing in Vietnam as mediated through the intergenerational contract. Although there are an increasing number of studies on older persons, there has been less attention paid to the role of the intergenerational contract in relation to productive ageing. Rowe and Kahn (1997) successful ageing model focuses on: avoiding disease and disability (health); high cognitive and physical functional capacity (economic); and active engagement with life (social / community). They assert that an activity is productive if it creates societal value, whether or not it is reimbursed. Given the importance and centrality of intergenerational relations and tradition in Vietnamese society, this study takes Rowe and Kahn’s assertion further and investigates the role of the intergenerational contract in reinforcing older person’s productivity. It achieves this through exploration of four pillars: intergenerational relations and familial responsibilities; health status and provision of informal and formal health-care support; socio-economic contributions to the household; and community participation. The research was conducted in four provinces of Vietnam in 2011 using inductive methods: semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations.

Patterns from the analysis correspond with Knodel et al’s (2000) approach of family care contributions for older persons, and additionally that of Truong et al (1997) in underlining the role intergenerational households have in supporting productive ageing. Further, the study concludes that understanding the pillars that uphold the intergenerational contract will be important for delivering the opportunities of productive ageing, all whilst building on and re-interpreting traditional values. It is through the role of the intergenerational contract, a concept that remains valuable today even where re-negotiated, that older persons are reinforcing the ways of enacting themselves as productive.

Authors: Tye, MT

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-o1qexkk7b
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Vietnam; productive ageing; intergenerational contract; intergenerational relations; productivity
• Subjects: Sociology; Gerontology; Aging