This paper reviews changing income distributions in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands, treating the three countries as leading economic performers in ' the three worlds of welfare capitalism.' Previous analyses have shown that earnings dispersion is increasing. The potential impact...

For Japan the nineties are regarded as the lost decade, due to slow economic growth in the formerly growth-intensive country. The slump, starting after the asset price bubble of the late eighties burst, is still going on. To identify factors contributing significantly to the unfavourable...

Despite the fact that the last century was characterized by an impressive increase of cross-border capital flows, Japan remained a relatively closed economy up to the late 90s. Only when the "bubble" burst was the impetus given for more rapid opening up of the economy and the closely related...

This paper analyzes the prologue to the Greek tragedy-in particular, the long period of slow growth after Greece joined the European Union and the short period of very strong growth following its adoption of the euro-and deduces reform proposals. Ultimately, a growth strategy should contain...