Reply to comment on “Why do women interact with their parents more often than men? The demonstration effect vs. the biological effect”

Abstract

In this research note, I argue that none of the claimed empirical evidence of the demonstration effect is causal. The demonstration effect is one of many unobserved motives behind intergenerational interactions. It is extremely difficult to single out the demonstration motive from these unobserved motives. In the real world, it remains a challenge to prove the demonstration effect.

Keywords:

• The demonstration effect
• Intergenerational transfers
• Children as old-age security
• Gender differences
• Confucian societies