In this important and timely book, researchers from different countries compare their experiences and offer contrasting views on the future of social protection. They consider the theoretical aspects of the intergenerational debate, relations between generations within the family, the living standards of elderly people, and the question of social time. For the first time in history, three and sometimes four generations are living at the same time; this book examines the new interactions between family change, labour force participation and population ageing.

Foreword by Jacques Veron and Sophie Pennec.- Preface by Francois Heran - Comments on the Social Contract and the Intergenerational Equity.- Introduction. Jacques Veron, Sophie Pennec & Jacques Legare.- Section I. Changing Background of Intergenerational Relationships: Chapter 1. Ronald Lee - Demographic Change, Welfare and Intergenerational Transfers: a Global Overview.- Chapter 2. Jacques Veron & Sophie Pennec - Demographic Context of the Social Contract in Developed Countries: Unity and Diversity.- Section II. Generations, Social Contract and Labour Force Participation: Theoretical and Empirical Issues.- Chapter 3. Andre Masson - Economics of the Intergenerational Debate: Normative, Accounting and Political Viewpoints.- Chapter 4. Bernard Perret - Reorganizing the Activity Cycle: The Stakes in a New Social Contract.- Chapter 5. Patrick Aubert, Didier Blanchet & David Blau - Social Contract and Age at Retirement: Some Elements of a Franco-American Comparison.- Chapter 6. Pierre Pestieau - Longevity and Work.- Section III. Family and Relationships between Generations.- Chapter 7. Renee Joyal - The Legal Relationship between Grandparents and Grandchildren in Quebec: A Disconcerting Evolution.- Chapter 8. Jenny Gierveld - Demographic Changes and the Social Contract of Informal Support within the Family.- Chapter 9. Constanza Tobio - Change and Reciprocity in Intergenerational Relationships: The discourse of Spanish Working Mothers.- Chapter 10. Emily Grundy - Intergenerational Exchanges in Older Populations.- Chapter 11. Christian Delbes & Joelle Gaymu - Family Solidarities at the Beginning of Retirement in France.- Section IV. Redistribution and Intergenerational Equity.- Chapter 12. Christina Behrendt- Pensions and Income Redistribution in a Comparative perspective: Evidence from the Luxembourg Income Study.- Chapter 13. Herve Gauthier - Social Spendings: Recent Changes andConditions for its Long-term Viability.- Chapter 14. Susan McDaniel - Pensions, Privilege and Poverty: Another 'Take' on Intergenerational Equity.- Section V. Social Time.- Chapter 15. Harriet B. Presser - Toward a 24 -Hour Economy: Implications for the Temporal Structure and Functioning of Family Life.- Chapter 16. Evelyne Lapierre-Adamcyk, Nicole Marcil-Gratton & Celine Le Bourdais - Working Schedules: in Search of a Balance between Family Time and Economic Wellbeing.- Chapter 17. Leroy O. Stone - Determinants of Paths of Transition to Total-Work Retirement: a Preliminary Empirical Analysis.- Concluding Remarks. Beyond Mecanicism: Norms and Values. Jacques Veron & Sophie Pennec