The Wealth Inequality of Nations

Comparative research on income inequality has produced several frameworks to study the institutional determinants of stratification. In contrast, no such framework and much less empirical evidence exist explain cross-national differences in wealth inequality. This situation is particularly lamentable as patterns diverge sharply from those income. We seek pave way for new explanations by tracing them influence different components. Drawing literatures financialization housing, we argue that housing equity should be central building block comparative analysis Using harmonized data 15 countries included Luxembourg Wealth Study (LWS), demonstrate a lack association between national levels concentration. decomposition approaches, then estimate degree which concentration relate portfolios distribution specific asset Considering role equity, financial assets, non-housing real debt, show variation centrally determined equity.