Contrary to widespread belief, voting machines of older types, such as lever and punchcard systems, are not used in counties with lower income - and newer machines, such as optical scanners and electronic machines, are not used in richer counties. We provide an economic explanation for this and...

The advent of modern science made possible the emergence of sustained economic growth. Without growth in scientific knowledge, the productivity growth experienced during the Industrial Revolution would have eventually diminished, as did growth from previous productivity revolutions (i.e....