Women Will Inherit Trillions in the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ – What Will They Do With It?
In the November edition of The Evidence, Josephine Lethbridge explores an historic shift in global wealth – and its potential to reshape charitable giving.
Over the coming decades, women are set to inherit an unprecedented share of global assets as part of the “great wealth transfer” from older to younger generations. Because women tend to outlive men, this wealth will first move sideways – from husbands to wives – before passing on to younger female relatives.
This marks a profound change: for the first time in history, control of global capital is beginning to shift away from men. Today, men hold $105 trillion more than women, yet some analysts predict that women could soon own half the world’s wealth.
What might this mean for philanthropy and social impact?
Research suggests that women approach wealth differently. When women control income, they’re more likely to direct it towards family and community needs. One survey found that only 19 percent of women would invest in a company that wasn’t considered socially responsible – compared to 51 percent of men.
Jacqueline Ackerman of Indiana University’s Women’s Philanthropy Institute explains: “Many women are motivated by a desire to strengthen communities and address systemic issues, often prioritising impact and connection over recognition or tax benefits.”
Insights like these fuel speculation that the great wealth transfer could tilt investment toward socially responsible causes. However, experts caution against assuming that inheritance alone will drive generosity.
Louise Russell Prywata of LSE’s International Inequalities Institute notes the lasting effects of professional norms; women may prefer hands-on philanthropy, but “they’re still using the same lawyers, accountants and wealth managers” as men.
Philanthropy expert Silvia Bastanta de Unverhau adds that those who earn their wealth often give more, meaning that inheritance tends to entrench, rather than disperse, assets.
Ultimately, Russell-Prywata stresses philanthropy’s role as government budgets shrink but calls for reforms: tightening tax incentives so donations reach charitable causes and offering stronger incentives for impactful giving. Still, she reminds us, philanthropic funds pale in comparison to public spending – lasting social change requires active engagement in communities, workplaces, and policy.
Read this month’s full newsletter to dive deeper into the potential impact of the great wealth transfer and discover practical steps for building a fairer, more equitable world. An archive of past issues can be accessed through Social Science Space.
