Smith J P
RAND, Santa Monica, California, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1997 May;52 Spec No:74-81. doi: 10.1093/geronb/52b.special_issue.74.
Using the AHEAD study, this article examines the wealth distribution among American households with a member at least 70 years old. Household wealth is quite unevenly distributed among older American households. Those households in the top 10th percentile of the wealth distribution have 2,500 times as much wealth as those at the lowest 10th percent. This sharp wealth disparity relative to income dispersion is the dominant reason why older minority households have accumulated so little wealth compared to White households. Wealth varies by a factor of seven to one when both spouses are in poor health compared to when they say that they are in excellent health. Finally, AHEAD data on bequest intentions suggest a bifurcated bequest motive. Most older households plan to bequeath a modest financial inheritance, but about one-quarter expect to leave inheritances worth $100,000 or more.
本文利用“健康与退休研究”（AHEAD），考察了家中至少有一位成员年满70岁的美国家庭的财富分布情况。美国家庭财富在老年家庭中的分布极不均衡。处于财富分布前10%的家庭所拥有的财富是处于后10%家庭的2500倍。相对于收入差距而言，这种巨大的财富差距是老年少数族裔家庭与白人家庭相比财富积累如此之少的主要原因。与夫妻双方均表示健康状况极佳时相比，当夫妻双方健康状况都很差时，家庭财富相差7倍。最后，“健康与退休研究”中有关遗产意愿的数据表明存在两种不同的遗产动机。大多数老年家庭计划留下数额不大的金融遗产，但约四分之一的家庭预计会留下价值10万美元或更多的遗产。
