This paper explores the impact of antiquity on capitalism through the finance-growth nexus. We define antiquity as the length of established statehood (i.e., state history) and agricultural years. We argue that extractive institutions and deeply entrenched interest groups may prevail in...

Africa has come a long way since the economic turmoil of the 1980s, the decade of "structural adjustment". Growth has been strong, yet poverty remains high. Underlying the shortage of good livelihoods and high social inequality is the lack of diversification in Africa's economies-in contrast to...

This report provides an overview of the development of social protection policies in the EU between January 2012 and June 2013. Prepared by the Social Protection Committee (SPC) as part of its mandate to monitor the social situation in the EU, it reviews the intensity of Member States' efforts...