This paper answers fundamental questions that have preoccupied modern economic thought since the 18th century. What is the aggregate real rate of return in the economy? Is it higher than the growth rate of the economy and, if so, by how much? Is there a tendency for returns to fall in the...

On 16th November 2009, SUERF, CEPS and the Belgian Financial Forum coorganized a conference "Crisis management at cross-roads" in Brussels. All papers in the present volume are based on contributions at the conference and the SUERF Annual Lecture which followed the event.

Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Economics of Optimal Growth Pathways -- Chapter 2 Ricardo’s Rent -- Chapter 3 Von Thunen’s Spatial Land Use: Grasslands and Cities -- Chapter 4 Faustmann’s Forest Harvest Rotation -- Chapter 5 Hotelling’s Fossil Fuel Economics -- Chapter 6 Fisheries...