Inheritance and wealth inequality: Evidence from population registers

Mikael Elinder, Oscar Erixson and Daniel Waldenström

No 2015:3, Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies from Uppsala University, Department of Economics

Abstract: This study estimates the effect of inheriting wealth on inequality and mobility in the wealth distribution. Using new population-wide register data on inheritances in Sweden, we find that inheritances reduce inequality and increase mobility among heirs. Richer heirs indeed inherit larger amounts, but less affluent heirs receive substantially larger inheritances relative to their pre-inheritance wealth than do richer heirs. The Swedish inheritance tax had a small overall impact but appears to have mitigated the equalizing effect of inheritances. We also investigate the potentially confounding role of pre-inheritance gifts and behavioral responses to expectations about future inheritances, but neither of them change the main finding that inheritances reduce wealth inequality.

Keywords: bequest; estate; net worth; inheritance taxation; wealth distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 E21 H24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 48 pages
Date: 2015-06-26
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-mac and nep-pbe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Inheritance and wealth inequality: Evidence from population registers (2018)
Working Paper: Inheritance and wealth inequality: Evidence from population registers (2016)
Working Paper: Inheritance and Wealth Inequality: Evidence from Population Registers (2016)
Working Paper: Inheritance and Wealth Inequality: Evidence from Population Registers (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:uufswp:2015_003

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