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The Effect of Inheritance Receipt on Labor and Capital Income: Evidence from Swedish Panel Data

Author

Listed:
  • Elinder, Mikael

    (Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies)

  • Erixson, Oscar

    (Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies)

  • Ohlsson, Henry

    (Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract
In this paper we study the effects of inheritances on labor and capital income of heirs. We use unique register based Swedish panel data to estimate both short run and medium run responses. The few existing studies have mainly focused on short run responses, using data from the U.S. Models of life cycle consumption stress that anticipated and unanticipated income changes have different impacts on the optimal consumption path. In Sweden, as in other countries with extensive public insurances and succession rules that prohibit decedents from bequeathing the entire estate to others than their children, inheritances are likely to be anticipated to a higher degree than in the U.S. Our estimates suggest that there is a negative effect of inheriting on labor income in the year of the receipt and the year after, and that the negative effect is even larger two to three years after receiving the inheritance. Moreover, we find that capital income increases by an amount corresponding to wealth increasing at least by the amount inherited.

Suggested Citation

  • Elinder, Mikael & Erixson, Oscar & Ohlsson, Henry, 2010. "The Effect of Inheritance Receipt on Labor and Capital Income: Evidence from Swedish Panel Data," Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies 2010:3, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:uufswp:2010_003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inheritances; bequests; windfall gains; labor supply; capital income; uncertainty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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