This paper presents an integrated overview of the literature linking institutions, financial development and economic growth. From the large body of research on institutional development, the paper first selects those contributions that make it possible to study the role of institutional...

Introduction -- The Foundations: Human Needs and Cultural Background -- Culture in Economic Thinking -- Cultural Background and Economic System -- The Effect of Cultural Background on Incentives, Growth and Distribution and Vice Versa -- Cultural Background and Rationality -- The Cultural...

We propose and apply methods to quantify the impact of national institutions on international trade and development. We are able to identify the direct impact of country-specific institutions on international trade within the structural gravity framework. Our approach naturally addresses the...