Taxation and Wealth Transmission in France

We examine the pattern of inter-vivos transfers and bequests in France, using both administrative records and household surveys. We first present the French institutional and fiscal setting of wealth transmission; then the usual economic models of behaviour, their link to fiscal system and their testable predictions. Finally we turn to empirical tests, concentrating on inter-vivos gifts. We examine whether observed behaviour is consistent with the models and with the incentives implied by the tax system.