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Heterogeneity of the Carnegie Effect

Author

Listed:
  • Erlend E. Bø
  • Elin Halvorsen
  • Thor O. Thoresen

Abstract

The Carnegie effect is the harm inherited wealth does to a recipient’s work effort. Carnegie effect estimates are few, reflecting that such effects are hard to trace. Most previous studies rely on data from limited-size surveys. We use information from administrative data covering the entire Norwegian population, enabling an examination of the heterogeneity of the Carnegie effect. Estimation results show significant reductions in labor supply for recipients of large inheritances. We find that Carnegie effects differ according to transfer size, the recipient’s age and eligibility for other transfer programs, and the existence of new heirs in the family chain.

Suggested Citation

  • Erlend E. Bø & Elin Halvorsen & Thor O. Thoresen, 2019. "Heterogeneity of the Carnegie Effect," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(3), pages 726-759.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:54:y:2019:i:3:p:726-759
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.3.0915.7366R1
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    Cited by:

    1. Mirjam van Praag & Arvid Raknerud, 2021. "The Returns to Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Matched Person-firm Data," Research in Labor Economics, in: Workplace Productivity and Management Practices, volume 49, pages 207-238, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    2. Malo, Miguel Á. & Sciulli, Dario, 2023. "Expected wealth transfers and consumption across the wealth distribution in Europe," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Georgarakos, Dimitris & Jappelli, Tullio & Kenny, Geoff & Pistaferri, Luigi, 2025. "Labor supply response to windfall gains," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    4. Christopher W. Kulp & Michael Kurtz & Charles Hunt & Matthew Velardi, 2023. "The distribution of wealth: an agent-based approach to examine the effect of estate taxation, skill inheritance, and the Carnegie Effect," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 18(2), pages 397-415, April.
    5. Jorge Velilla & José Alberto Molina & Pierre-André Chiappori, 2025. "The price of breaking up: Wage shocks and household dissolution," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 1096, Boston College Department of Economics.
    6. Belloc, Ignacio & Molina, José Alberto & Velilla, Jorge, 2025. "Consumption responses to inheritances: The role of durable goods," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    7. von Werder, Marten, 2018. "Intergenerational transfers: How do they shape the German wealth distribution?," Discussion Papers 2018/15, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    8. Schratzenstaller, Margit, 2025. "Behavioral responses to inheritance taxation – A review of the empirical literature," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 238-260.
    9. Oscar Erixson, 2017. "Health responses to a wealth shock: evidence from a Swedish tax reform," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 30(4), pages 1281-1336, October.
    10. Stefan Jestl, 2021. "Inheritance tax regimes: a comparison," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 45(3), pages 363-385.
    11. Karina Doorley & Nico Pestel, 2020. "Labour Supply after Inheritances and the Role of Expectations," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 82(4), pages 843-863, August.
    12. Philipp Krug, 2022. "Optimal Estate Taxation: More (about) Heterogeneity across Dynasties," Working Papers 217, Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE).
    13. Kindermann, Fabian & Mayr, Lukas & Sachs, Dominik, 2020. "Inheritance taxation and wealth effects on the labor supply of heirs," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    14. Favara, Marta & Freund, Richard & Perez-Alvarez, Marcello, 2023. "What If It Never Happened? Subjective Treatment Effects of a Negative Shock on Youth Labour Market Outcomes in Developing Countries," IZA Discussion Papers 16417, IZA Network @ LISER.
    15. Yotam Peterfreund & Michel Strawczynski, 2024. "An Economic Justification for Rignano's Inheritance Tax Proposal," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 52(4), pages 201-212, December.
    16. Belloc, Ignacio & Molina, José Alberto & Velilla, Jorge, 2025. "When wealth hurts: Inheritances and the health of older Europeans," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 32(C).
    17. Ignacio Belloc & José Alberto Molina & Jorge Velilla, 2025. "Unexpected Inheritances and Household Labor Supply: Does the Identity of the Recipient Matter?," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 71(1), February.
    18. Andrzej Janowski, 2020. "Philanthropy and the Contribution of Andrew Carnegie to Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-26, December.
    19. Eduard Suari-Andreu, 2023. "Labour supply, retirement, and consumption responses of older Europeans to inheritance receipt," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 33-75, January.
    20. Berg, Kristoffer & Hebous, Shafik, 2025. "The effect of parental wealth on labor income: Evidence from the Norwegian wealth tax," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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