Family and domestic situations seen from the cohort angle

Abstract

On either side of the Atlantic the risk of one's spouse dying has diminished over the generations whilst marriage failures have multiplied. Although until very recently the former factor has presided over the latter thus making life as a couple more frequent at different stages of retirement, today we are witnessing a reversal of this tendency. Paradoxically such a progression of life as a couple has been accompanied by a rise in residential isolation. The rarity of intergenerational cohabitation and the dislike of life in an institution, at least until I a very advanced age are there hidden beneath the surface. Although these heavy tendencies are common to both Quebec and France, their intensity is variable. The article's aim is to highlight the similarities and differences in their evolution.