Intergenerational Transfers, Aging, and Uncertainty

David Weil

No 4477, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Research on intergenerational transmission of wealth has pointed to uncertainty -- about the date of one's own death, for example -- as a potential source of significant bequest flows. In this paper I examine the effects of this same uncertainty on the behavior of those who expect to receive bequests. Potential heirs who are prudent will consume less than would be warranted by the size of their expected bequests, and so on average consumption will rise at the age when actual bequests are received. I examine the effect of this uncertainty on the outcome of population aging. Population aging, by changing the relative sizes of the bequeathing generation and those receiving bequests, raises the average size of bequests received and reduces the saving of the bequest-receiving generation. I show that accounting for the effects of uncertainty slows down the reduction in saving that results from population aging.

JEL-codes: E12 J14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1993-09
Note: AG
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published as Advances in the Economics of Aging, David A. Wise, ed., pp. 321-339, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996).
Published as Intergenerational Transfers, Aging, and Uncertainty , David N. Weil. in Advances in the Economics of Aging , Wise. 1996

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