Intergenerational Transmission of Wealth

Wealth is the sum of an individual's or household's assets, including real assets such as houses, vehicles, and real estate, and financial assets such as checking and savings accounts, stocks, and bonds. Wealth is often used synonymously with net worth, which refers to the difference between one's total assets and total debts. Extreme inequalities in wealth ownership exist within the United States, and the immense concentration of wealth within a small minority of the population is due in part to the intergenerational transfer of wealth within families.

This entry provides an overview of the impact of wealth on well-being, an outline of the study and measurement of wealth, an explanation of how wealth is acquired, and a description of how wealth is distributed.