The Easterlin paradox suggests that there is no link between a society's economic development and its average level of happiness. We re-assess this paradox analyzing multiple rich datasets spanning many decades. Using recent data on a broader array of countries, we establish a clear positive...

We investigate whether a causal interpretation of the robust association between cognitive skills and economic growth is appropriate and whether cross-country evidence supports a case for the economic benefits of effective school policy. We develop a new common metric that allows tracking...

Many scholars have argued that once basic needs have been met, higher income is no longer associated with higher in subjective well-being. We assess the validity of this claim in comparisons of both rich and poor countries, and also of rich and poor people within a country. Analyzing multiple...

This paper develops the theoretical foundations and the testable implications of the various mechanisms that have been proposed as possible triggers for the demographic transition. Moreover, it examines the empirical validity of each of the theories and their significance for the understanding...

In recent decades economists have turned their attention to data that asks people how happy or satisfied they are with their lives. Much of the early research concluded that the role of income in determining well-being was limited, and that only income relative to others was related to...

We investigate whether a causal interpretation of the robust association between cognitive skills and economic growth is appropriate and whether cross-country evidence supports a case for the economic benefits of effective school policy. We develop a new common metric that allows tracking...

This paper develops empirical growth models suitable for dual economies, and studies the relationship between structural change and economic growth. Changes in the structure of employment will raise aggregate productivity when the marginal product of labour varies across sectors. The models in...

US labor productivity in ICT-skill intensive industries experienced tremendous increases in post-1995 trend growth compared to Germany, while other (non-ICT-skill intensive) industries showed similar growth trends in both countries. Examining the source of industry productivity growth in German...

The investigation of the determinants of economic growth plays an important role for our understanding of the sources of cross-country income differences. This paper analyzes the effects of institutions and innovations on country productivity growth. The empirical evidence shows that...

Over the last two decades EU countries experienced diverging productivity growth developments. By examining the sources of EU countries growth drivers on the sectoral level, the paper takes a new look on the influence of innovations. While standard neoclassical Non-ICT capital deepening turns...