Authors
Paolo Acciari, Facundo Alvaredo, Salvatore Morelli
Publication date
2024/6
Journal
Journal of the European Economic Association
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
1228-1274
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Description
We estimate the distribution of wealth in Italy between 1995 and 2016 using a novel source of inheritance tax files, combined with surveys and national accounts. We find that the level of wealth concentration is in line with other European countries; however, its time trend appears more in line with the US, showing a significant increase over the period studied. The country exhibits one of the greatest declines in the wealth share of the bottom 50%. The paper also shows that age plays a marginal role in explaining wealth concentration. Changes in savings, instead, are the predominant force behind the increase in wealth inequality, even at the top. Equity prices also account for a large share of wealth growth above the 99th percentile, whereas changes in house prices play only a minor role. Finally, we document the growing concentration of life-time wealth transfers, and their increasingly favorable tax treatment.
Total citations
201820192020202120222023202435101612
Scholar articles
P Acciari, F Alvaredo, S Morelli - Journal of the European Economic Association, 2024
P Acciari, F Alvaredo, S Morelli - Conference How financial systems work: evidence from …, 2017