Inheriting wealth in America: future boom or bust?

Abstract

Chapter 1. Introduction to the Book 1.1 Prologue 1.2 Overview and plan of the book Chapter 2. Background Material 2.1 Literature review on inheritances 2.2 Household Wealth Trends, 1983 to 2010 Chapter 3. Inheritances and the Distribution of Wealth Or Whatever Happened to the Great Inheritance Boom? 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Data sources and methods 3.3 Empirical findings, 1989 - 2007 3.4 Summary and concluding remarks Appendix to Chapter 3: Questions on Wealth Transfers and Work History in the Survey of Consumer Finances Questionnaire Chapter 4. An Examination of Inheritances Using the Panel Survey of Income Dynamics 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Patterns of inheritances 4.3 Do inheritances substitute for other savings? 4.4 Concluding remarks Chapter 5. Wealth Accumulation by Age Cohort: The Role of Savings, Capital Gains and Intergenerational Transfers 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The accounting framework 5.3 Data sources and descriptive statistics 5.4 Simulation model of wealth changes by age group 5.5 Simulation results 5.6 Concluding remarks Appendix to Chapter 5: Sources and Methods Used in the Construction of Savings Rates by Age Group, 1983 to 2007 Chapter 6. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 6.1 Summary and concluding remarks 6.2 Policy recommendations