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Do bequests increase or decrease wealth inequalities?

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  • Horioka, Charles Yuji

Abstract

This paper finds that individuals in Japan do not leave very significant bequests, that parents often require a quid pro quo for bequests to their children, and that wealthier individuals leave less bequests, meaning that bequests ameliorate wealth inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Horioka, Charles Yuji, 2009. "Do bequests increase or decrease wealth inequalities?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 103(1), pages 23-25, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:103:y:2009:i:1:p:23-25
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    4. Wakabayashi, Midori & Horioka, Charles Yuji, 2009. "Is the eldest son different? The residential choice of siblings in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 337-348, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elinder, Mikael & Erixson, Oscar & Waldenström, Daniel, 2018. "Inheritance and wealth inequality: Evidence from population registers," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 17-30.
    2. Elinder Mikael & Erixson Oscar & Ohlsson Henry, 2012. "The Impact of Inheritances on Heirs' Labor and Capital Income," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-37, December.
    3. Camacho, Carmen & Harmankaya, Fatih & Sağlam, Çağrı, 2020. "Social status pursuit, distribution of bequests and inequality," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 183-191.
    4. Charles Yuji Horioka, 2021. "Is the selfish life-cycle model more applicable in Japan and, if so, why? A literature survey," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 157-187, March.
    5. Ctirad Slavik & Kevin Wiseman, 2018. "Tough Love for Lazy Kids: Dynamic Insurance and Equal Bequests," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 27, pages 64-80, January.
    6. repec:cep:sticas:/148 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Eleni Karagiannaki, 2017. "The Impact of Inheritance on the Distribution of Wealth: Evidence from Great Britain," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 63(2), pages 394-408, June.
    8. Beck Hanno & Prinz Aloys, 2014. "Willkommen in Schumpeters Hotel: Zur Dynamik der Vermögensverteilung / Welcome to Schumpeter's hotel – On the dynamics of the distribution of wealth," ORDO. Jahrbuch für die Ordnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, De Gruyter, vol. 65(1), pages 263-278, January.
    9. Charles Yuji Horioka, 2019. "Are The Japanese Unique? Evidence From Saving And Bequest Behavior," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(01), pages 5-22, March.
    10. Charles Yuji Horioka, 2016. "Are the Japanese Unique? Evidence from Household Saving and Bequest Behavior," ISER Discussion Paper 0973, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    11. Charles Yuji Horioka & Emin Gahramanov & Aziz Hayat & Xueli Tang, 2018. "Why Do Children Take Care Of Their Elderly Parents? Are The Japanese Any Different?," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 59(1), pages 113-136, February.
    12. Karagiannaki, Eleni, 2011. "The impact of inheritance on the distribution of wealth: evidence from the UK," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 43895, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Charles Yuji Horioka, 2024. "The Impact of Intergenerational Transfers on the Distribution of Wealth: An International Comparison," NBER Working Papers 33015, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Erixson, Oscar & Ohlsson, Henry, 2014. "Estate division: Equal sharing as choice, social norm, and legal requirement," Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies 2014:2, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    15. Oscar Erixson & Henry Ohlsson, 2019. "Estate division: equal sharing, exchange motives, and Cinderella effects," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(4), pages 1437-1480, October.
    16. Charles Horioka, 2014. "Are Americans and Indians more altruistic than the Japanese and Chinese? Evidence from a new international survey of bequest plans," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 411-437, September.
    17. Eleni Karagiannaki, 2011. "The impact of inheritance on the distribution of wealth: Evidence from the UK," CASE Papers case148, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    18. Elinder, Mikael & Erixson, Oscar & Escobar, Sebastian & Ohlsson, Henry, 2014. "Estates, bequests, and inheritances in Sweden - A look into the Belinda databases," Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies 2014:14, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    19. Ramon L. Clarete & Ernesto M. Pernia & Ammielou Gaduena & Adrian Mendoza, 2014. "The Role of Science, Technology and Research in Economic Development," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 201407, University of the Philippines School of Economics.
    20. Iacopo Odoardi & Carmen Pagliari, 2020. "Household Wealth as a Factor of Economic Growth: A Case Study of Italy," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 14(3), September.
    21. Arash Nekoei & David Seim, 2023. "How Do Inheritances Shape Wealth Inequality? Theory and Evidence from Sweden," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(1), pages 463-498.
    22. Junya Hamaaki & Masahiro Hori & Keiko Murata, 2014. "Intergenerational Transfers and Asset Inequality in Japan: Empirical Evidence from New Survey Data," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 28(1), pages 41-62, March.
    23. Ono, Taiki, 2024. "Bequests and wealth inequality in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    24. Charles Yuji Horioka, 2014. "Why Do People Leave Bequests? For Love or Self-Interest? Evidence from a New International Survey of Bequest Plans," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 201406, University of the Philippines School of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bequests Inheritances Intergenerational transfers Wealth inequalities Life cycle wealth;

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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