Theoretical models of growth reveal that either exogenous or endogenous, technology is the main driving force behind the long-run economic growth. Furthermore, in the endogenous growth framework, diffusion of technology is the basic mechanism of per capita income convergence among countries....

A general model of intertemporal consumption choice is developed, following Samuelson`s 1958 OLG-approach. The efficiency properties of the model are discussed with and without the introduction of durable goods, of productive capital, and fiat money. It is shown that the criterion of golden rule...