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Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans and the Distribution of Family Wealth: Working Paper 2023-02

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  • Nadia Karamcheva
  • Victoria Perez-Zetune

Abstract

Family wealth inequality in the United States has risen over the past several decades, as documented by researchers using a variety of methods and data. Much of family wealth is in tax- preferred, employer-sponsored retirement plans—typically either a traditional defined benefit (DB) plan or the now more prevalent defined contribution (DC) plan. Because retirement wealth is generally less concentrated than other types, changes in the distribution of retirement wealth and in the type of retirement assets could affect overall wealth inequality.Using data

Suggested Citation

  • Nadia Karamcheva & Victoria Perez-Zetune, 2023. "Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans and the Distribution of Family Wealth: Working Paper 2023-02," Working Papers 58305, Congressional Budget Office.
    • Handle: RePEc:cbo:wpaper:58305
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    File URL: https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-02/58305-Wealth.pdf
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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