Exploring bequest intentions of Indian households

Abstract

This paper examines the bequest motives of Indian households in a context of changing demographic factors such as ageing and economic shocks such as the financial crisis of 2009, and demonetization in the year 2016. We employ a standardized questionnaire, and collect data from a random sample of 220 participants. The results indicate that self- interest has a negative association and social norms is positively associated with the intention to bequest. Further, altruism, religiosity and social norms negatively amplifies the relationship between self-interest and intention to bequest.

Keywords

• bequest
• savings behaviour
• self-interest
• altruism
• inter-generational transfer
• emerging economy