3 ms·

The big problem is that it's probably not possible to distinguish between "forced" (by circumstances) or "by own choice". I suspect that it's a similar problem

• wqaatwt 2y ago
  Historically the primary and often almost only reliable way of obtaining any kind of meaningful wealth was through inheritance inheriting it. So such behavior was completely standard and expected (it’s much easier to justify it if your parents inherited most of their wealth as well). In a way that seems like an inseparable part of highly stable/stagnant societies. The things that broke the wheel back in the 1800s and 1900s was very rapid technological progress and several massive wars leading to societal collapse across much of the world
  • anovikov 2y ago
    But today, inheritance still plays a very small part compared to what it was even 40 years ago.
    • bombcar 2y ago
      The easiest way to get billions is still inheritance. But almost anyone can get into the low millions by diligently working and saving ($20/hr for 30 years is 1.2m after all).
      • pjc50 2y ago
        And all you need to do is not spend any of that $1.2m on food and rent in the meantime!