Economics
The Intergenerational Transmission of Wealth Inequality Through Marriage and Inheritance
Quick fact
In many Western societies, a child's expected wealth is strongly predicted by their parents' wealth, and this effect is amplified by the fact that wealthy individuals tend to marry each other—a pattern called assortative mating—creating dynasties that accumulate even more wealth over time.
Why this is interesting
You might wonder why wealth inequality feels so stuck across generations. But what if the biggest culprit isn't just hard work or luck—but two seemingly personal decisions: who you marry and what you inherit?