Leaving legacies and liabilities: The distribution of wealth at death

Abstract

This paper leverages novel administrative data on terminal wealth in Vienna to show that Gini indices of wealth inequality at death exceed unity, with 20-30% of decedents leaving behind debt. We analyze the drivers of this distribution, finding that the drivers of terminal wealth (distribution) are different from determinants of wealth (inequality) among the living. Lifecycle effects have limited explanatory power. In contrast, bequest motives are associated with higher wealth and a marginal increase in the share of decedents that reveal preferences on post-mortem resource allocations reduces inequality. Homeownership also correlates with higher wealth (the reverse is true for care-home residency), though housing wealth does not benefit the bottom of the distribution across districts. Finally, means-tested long-term care transfers significantly amplify terminal wealth inequality.