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Value of inheritances varies "considerably from country to country": Eight Questions to Christian Westermeier

Interview of April 27, 2016

Mr. Westermeier, in which European countries do we see assets being inherited more frequently and in which countries is this a less frequent occurrence?

Overall, the frequency of inheritances and gifts is quite similar across all European countries. Between 30 and 40 percent of households benefited from an inheritance. However, the figures depend on the age structure and/ or when exactly intergenerational transfers are made and, indeed, whether they are made at all. Moreover, in some countries, such as Spain, it is not common practice to transfer assets as gifts. The value of inheritances, however, varies considerably from country to country. [...]

The full interview with Christian Westermeier is published in DIW Economic Bulletin 16/2016. It is available for download as pdf document.

More issues of DIW Economic Bulletin

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