Skewed Wealth Distributions: Theory and Empirics

Jess Benhabib and Alberto Bisin

Journal of Economic Literature, 2018, vol. 56, issue 4, 1261-91

Abstract: Invariably across a cross-section of countries and time periods, wealth distributions are skewed to the right displaying thick upper tails, that is, large and slowly declining top wealth shares. In this survey we categorize the theoretical studies on the distribution of wealth in terms of the underlying economic mechanisms generating skewness and thick tails. Further, we show how these mechanisms can be micro-founded by the consumption-saving decisions of rational agents in specific economic and demographic environments. Finally we map the large empirical work on the wealth distribution to its theoretical underpinnings.

JEL-codes: C46 D14 D31 E21 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jel.20161390
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (140)

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Working Paper: Skewed Wealth Distributions: Theory and Empirics (2016)
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