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Fitness effects of grandparental investments in contemporary low-risk societies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2010

Ralf Kaptijn
Affiliation:
Faculty of Social Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. rwj.kaptijn@fsw.vu.nlgcf.thomese@fsw.vu.nl
Fleur Thomese
Affiliation:
Faculty of Social Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. rwj.kaptijn@fsw.vu.nlgcf.thomese@fsw.vu.nl

Abstract

Coall & Hertwig (C&H) suggest that, because grandparental investments do not impact on child mortality in low-risk societies, fitness effects are not plausible any more. We found that grandparental investments could very well alleviate contemporary constraints on fertility. Cultural factors may influence both the occurrence and impact of grandparental investments.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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