Wealth Accumulation and Opportunity Hoarding: Class-Origin Wealth Gaps over a Quarter of a Century in a Scandinavian Country

Although the Scandinavian countries are often considered to epitomize social democratic governance, Scandinavia’s profound wealth inequalities, seen in relation more modest income differences, constitutes a fascinating paradox. Drawing on class theoretical concerns with strategies for reproduction and Bourdieusian emphasis fractions, we explore how class-origin gaps evolved over past 25 years Norway, they compare gaps. First, find that have increased recent years, whereas inequalities fairly persistent among men, increasing women. We educational attainment is important channeling inequality, but education less understanding Second, document differences between people whose family contexts were most highly endowed economic capital those who grew up families engaged cultural fields or professions. Finally, highlight analyses based solely net worth neglect ways origin perpetuates accelerates via acquisition of debt. argue decades fostered new instruments opportunity hoarding successfully used by sons daughters upper class.