Altruism, uncertain lifetime and the distribution of wealth
Abstract
This paper studies the dynamics of the distribution of wealth in a general equilibrium framework. It considers an overlapping generations model with production and altruistic preferences in which individuals face an uncertain lifetime and annuity markets do not exist. This paper focuses on the role that accidental bequests, voluntary bequests, and non--negativity constraints on bequests play in the dynamics of the distribution of wealth. It is proved that the equilibrium interest rate is lower than the one that satisfies the modified golden rule. In this economy, a social security system not only plays an insurance role, but also prevents capital overaccumulation. In fact, this paper shows that a pay--as--you--go social security system decentralizes the social planner solution as a competitive equilibrium.Download Info
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Paper provided by Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra in its series Economics Working Papers with number 150.Length:
Date of creation: Dec 1995
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:150
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Web page: http://www.econ.upf.edu/
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- Shyam NMI Sunder & Antoni Bosch-Domènech, 2001.
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Citations
Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.Cited by:
- Luisa Fuster, 1999.
"Is Altruism Important for Understanding the Long-Run Effects of Social Security?,"
Review of Economic Dynamics,
Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 2(3), pages 616-637, July.
- Luisa Fuster, 1997. "Is altruism important for understanding the long-run effects of social security?," Economics Working Papers 234, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
- Ana I. Moro-Egido, 2004. "Educational System, Altruism and Inequality in the Distribution of Income," Economic Working Papers at Centro de Estudios Andaluces E2004/46, Centro de Estudios Andaluces.
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