Size and prosperity – are large countries richer?

Redistribution toward Low Incomes in Richer Countries

During the twentieth century, most developed countries have adopted extensive government-managed income support programs for low-income families and individuals. For example, the United Stated launched income support programs such as Social Security for the old, unemployment compensation for those who lose their jobs, and Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) for low-income families d...

Growth Building Jobs and Prosperity in Developing Countries

Patience and prosperity

This paper introduces wealth-dependent time preference into a simple model of endogenous growth. The model generates adjustment dynamics in line with the historical facts on savings and economic growth in Europe from the High Middle Ages to today. Along a virtuous cycle of development more wealth leads to more patience, which leads to more savings and even higher wealth. Savings rates and incom...

Preschool and Prosperity

Substantial research shows that high-quality early childhood education programs have a large economic payoff. This payoff is increased earnings for former child participants, increased earnings for parents, and increased earnings for all workers when average worker skills improve. A program package of universal pre-K, combined with child care and parenting support for all low-income families, w...

Material wealth in 3D: Mapping multiple paths to prosperity in low- and middle- income countries

Material wealth is a key factor shaping human development and well-being. Every year, hundreds of studies in social science and policy fields assess material wealth in low- and middle-income countries assuming that there is a single dimension by which households can move from poverty to prosperity. However, a one-dimensional model may miss important kinds of prosperity, particularly in countrie...