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Wealth Inequality: Opportunity or Unfairness?

Author

Listed:
  • Haliassos, Michael
  • Jansson, Thomas
  • Karabulut, Yigitcan

Abstract

This paper presents evidence for a new propagation mechanism of wealth inequality. Motivated by cross-country survey evidence, it uses unique administrative microdata and a quasi-field experiment of exogenous assignment to test the hypothesis that, in the presence of significant opportunities for wealth mobility, the more educated respond to greater wealth inequality at the start of economic life by taking more financial, real, and self-employment risks and achieving higher wealth, thereby propagating wealth inequality. We find no evidence for alternative channels of propagation through labor income, unemployment risk, or human capital investment, nor for inspiration, imitation, or learning from the rich.

Suggested Citation

  • Haliassos, Michael & Jansson, Thomas & Karabulut, Yigitcan, 2022. "Wealth Inequality: Opportunity or Unfairness?," CEPR Discussion Papers 17237, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:17237
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household finance; Wealth inequality; Propagation of inequality; Education; Opportunity; Refugees;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G5 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior

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