Daniel Waldenström
The Department of Finance invites you to a research seminar with Professor Daniel Waldenström, Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN Stockholm)
Rising Gaps, Falling Inequality: Wealth in Sweden, 1999–2020
Abstract:
We study the wealth distribution in Sweden between 1999 and 2020, using new population-wide administrative data linked to national accounts. Wealth rose sharply across the distribution. While absolute gaps between the top and middle widened, overall wealth inequality declined: the Gini coefficient fell from 0.87 to 0.77 and the top decile’s wealth share from 67 to 57 percent. Funded pension wealth reduced inequality, whereas business wealth in the top increased concentration. We also show that top wealth growth was driven by new individuals, liquid wealth concentrated among the wealthy, asset poverty declined, and younger cohorts became wealthier than earlier cohorts.