Tag: factors affecting inheritance receipt

Senior woman doing finances at home

Abstract Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we compare actual inheritances received during the period 1994 to 2004 with the amounts that, in 1994, households anticipated receiving within 10 years.  We find little evidence of systematic forecasting errors.  The factors affecting inheritance receipt also affect expectation formation. Although the distribution is highly skewed,…

Hand holding coins in birds nest.

Introduction This brief explores how the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution pension plans might affect bequests and thereby consumption and saving. Bequests can occur under two different types of circumstances: (1) individuals plan to leave an inheritance for their heirs (an intended bequest); or (2) individuals have no specific inheritance plans, but d…