Intergenerational transfers in the form of bequests play an important role in the multigenerational transfer of wealth and income disparity. As such, it is necessary to grasp the patterns of the transmission of wealth across generations. Two important factors, the size of inheritances and the timing at which they are received, help us to understand who will benefit most from bequests and to what degree. Examining demographic change in both fertility and life expectancy provides relevant insights into the timing and size of bequests over time. Longer life implies that people will receive bequests when they are older, while increasing generational length suggests a reduction in the average age at which people are given bequests.
There are a number of factors that influence the giving and receiving of bequests as well as their significance in wealth accumulation and income disparity. Economic theory identifies and debates three motivating forces behind intergenerational monetary transfers: altruistic, strategic, and accidental (Hurd and Smith 2002). Demographic theory emphasizes the role of population age structure (Lee and Mason 2011; Sánchez-Romero, Ogawa, and Matsukura 2013). Bequests are also affected, in opposite directions, by factors such as increases in household wealth and shocks related to medical expenses (Hurd and Smith 2001).
Between 1989 and 2007, bequests accounted for approximately 40% of the wealth accumulated over the lifetime of 30% of households who could expect an inheritance. At any given cross section during this time period, around 21% of households in the United States had received a bequest. While this percentage increases among wealthier households, inheritances may account for a larger proportion of the wealth of those in lower income brackets, suggesting that bequests may play an equalizing role in wealth inequality (Wolff 2002; Wolff and Gittelman 2011).
In this paper we examine patterns of intergenerational transfers, in the form of bequests, from a demographic perspective. We use the methods of formal demography, and survey data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to evaluate trends in the United States. Our results indicate that a long-term trend of increasing age at receiving inheritance might have stalled and may reverse in the near future. In the long term, the upward trend in the age at which people receive bequests is expected to resume.
Intergenerational transfers in the form of bequests play an important role in the multigenerational transfer of wealth and income disparity. As such, it is necessary to grasp the patterns of the transmission of wealth across generations. Two important factors, the size of inheritances and the timing at which they are received, help us to understand who will benefit most from bequests and to what degree. Examining demographic change in both fertility and life expectancy provides relevant insights into the timing and size of bequests over time. Longer life implies that people will receive bequests when they are older, while increasing generational length suggests a reduction in the average age at which people are given bequests.There are a number of factors that influence the giving and receiving of bequests as well as their significance in wealth accumulation and income disparity. Economic theory identifies and debates three motivating forces behind intergenerational monetary transfers: altruistic, strategic, and accidental (Hurd and Smith 2002). Demographic theory emphasizes the role of population age structure (Lee and Mason 2011; Sánchez-Romero, Ogawa, and Matsukura 2013). Bequests are also affected, in opposite directions, by factors such as increases in household wealth and shocks related to medical expenses (Hurd and Smith 2001).Between 1989 and 2007, bequests accounted for approximately 40% of the wealth accumulated over the lifetime of 30% of households who could expect an inheritance. At any given cross section during this time period, around 21% of households in the United States had received a bequest. While this percentage increases among wealthier households, inheritances may account for a larger proportion of the wealth of those in lower income brackets, suggesting that bequests may play an equalizing role in wealth inequality (Wolff 2002; Wolff and Gittelman 2011).In this paper we examine patterns of intergenerational transfers, in the form of bequests, from a demographic perspective. We use the methods of formal demography, and survey data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to evaluate trends in the United States. Our results indicate that a long-term trend of increasing age at receiving inheritance might have stalled and may reverse in the near future. In the long term, the upward trend in the age at which people receive bequests is expected to resume.
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