more profitable for the rich than the poor, inequality increases. The model is calibrated to illustrate polarization and … increasing inequality in early modern Europe, starting from a continuous pre-industrial wealth distribution. During the early … industrializing period, when labor markets operate and capital markets do not, inequality increases and a distinct working class …

After evening out all the benefits and costs, the overall optimal level of democracy is about 3.2, on a scale of 1 to 7 … have a conditioned growth rate of 1.146 while countries with the optimal level of democracy/autocracy have a conditioned … growth rate of 2.665. In the case of a fully dictatorial country, moving one unit towards democracy can raise the GDP growth …

and the extent of government employment at three levels: federal, state and local. We find that increases in federal …, state and local government employments are all negatively associated with economic growth. We find no evidence that … government is more efficient at lower levels. While we cannot separate out the productive and redistributive services of …

have experienced rapid growth and catch up, others have fallen behind. At a global level there is an increasing inequality … of per capita incomes. However, within the framework of increasing inequality, some countries have experienced …