Do Bequests Increase or Decrease Wealth Inequalities?

Horioka, Charles Yuji

doi:10.2139/ssrn.1323985

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Do Bequests Increase or Decrease Wealth Inequalities?

Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) Discussion Paper No. 729

9 Pages Posted: 8 Jan 2009

See all articles by Charles Yuji Horioka

Charles Yuji Horioka

Kobe University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Asian Growth Research Institute; Osaka University

There are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 6, 2009

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.

Keywords: Bequests, Inheritances, Intergenerational transfers, Wealth inequalities, Life

JEL Classification: D12, D91, E21

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Horioka, Charles Yuji, Do Bequests Increase or Decrease Wealth Inequalities? (January 6, 2009). Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) Discussion Paper No. 729, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1323985 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1323985