Hermalin (1999:16) stressed that the "elderly should not be viewed solely as
recipients of transfers as support does not flow from the younger to the older
generation but vice-versa as well, whereby older adults offer assistance with
household management and childcare aid." Modeling the exchange process involves
decisions regarding the determinants of the different flow of resources. These may
include the characteristics of the recipients and providers, the relative balance of
needs and resources available and reciprocal obligations that may be incurred in the
exchange (Soldo, Wolf and Henretta, 1999). Gradually, as the costs of care-giving