There is a growing literature which analyses, using cross-country data, whether institutions or geography is the most … important deep determinant of income per capita. The empirical proxies used for institutions in this literature, however, focus … only on formal institutions, rather than informal institutions, despite the fact that North (1990) emphasised the …

, institutions. Our empirical results suggest that formal and informal institutions are substitutes. Improving informal institutions … effects of improving formal institutions. The gains from improving informal institutions are greatest for countries in which … institutions are weakest. Geographical factors also help explain cross-country variation in life expectancy. …

Over the last couple of decades, it has become a commonplace to claim that institutions matter" for economic … development. Yet, institutions are not exogenous but the result of hu-man action. It is argued here that the values and norms held … by substantial parts of society’s members are an important determinant of its institutions. It is further argued that …

institutional and cultural factors. Our findings are that a culture characterized by individualism/self-determination is in favor of … has similarities to technical science and scientific culture, is a a public good game with the contributions are a means …

institutional and cultural factors. Our findings are that a culture characterized by individualism/self-determination, abundance of …