Windfall gain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A windfall gain is any type of income that is unexpected.[1]
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[edit] Types of Windfall Gains
The list of windfall gains includes, but is not limited to:
- Lottery winnings
- Unexpected inheritance
- Gains from demutualization
[edit] Uses of Windfall Gains
What people do with windfall gains is subject to much debate. While they differ from one account to the next, most economists hypothesize that the majority of the gains are saved, due to the Permanent Income Hypothesis.[2]
[edit] Windfall Profits
Windfall profits are a type of windfall gain. They can occur due to unforeseen circumstances in a product's market, such as unexpected demand or government regulation. Since the profits were unforeseen, some legislators believe that taxing them should not hurt the company. This type of taxation is known as a windfall profits tax.[3]