Effects of education on elderly care preferences

Abstract

This paper explores the effects of education on elderly care preferences by using the 1997 compulsory schooling reform in Turkey, which extended compulsory schooling from five to eight years, as an instrument. Our results provide evidence that increased schooling due to this reform decreases the likelihood of females agreeing with the statement that ‘children should look after their parents when they are old’. Additionally, it increases their own intention to use formal care options, such as nursing homes, hospices, or home care services, in their old age. The impact of education on the elderly care preferences of males is found to be insignificant. By establishing the causal relationship between education and preferences for elderly care, this paper contributes to our understanding of how higher education can influence intergenerational dynamics and the demand for formal care services.