The Power of Ideas
Joel Mokyr on the intellectual origins of the Industrial Revolution and modern economic growth
An interview with introduction by Brian Snowdon
Volume 8, Number 3, 2007, pages 53 - 110
Joel Mokyr is one of the world’s leading economic historians, known internationally for his numerous publications on the history of technology and the Industrial Revolution. He has also written extensively on demographic issues and Irish economic history. In this interview, Professor Mokyr discusses ... Read more
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Comment
Phillip Crowson on the ‘death of distance’ and natural resource-based economic development in history.
Volume 7, Number 1, 2006, pages 185 - 187
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Monetary Policy, Macro-stability and Growth
South Africa’s recent experience and lessons
Janine Aron & John Muellbauer
Volume 6, Number 4, 2005, pages 123 - 147
There is greater appreciation now amongst economists of the negative effect of uncertainty on investment, growth and equality, especially when credit constraints are widespread. This implies an important linkage between the transparency and predictability of the policy environment, and growth and eq ... Read more
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To What Extent Should Less-Developed Countries Enforce Intellectual Property Rights?
Gilles Saint-Paul
Volume 6, Number 3, 2005, pages 175 - 196
This paper discusses a number of issues in the context of the debate on intellectual property in less developed countries (LDCs). It starts by discussing the consequences of IP enforcement in LDCs for global innovation and welfare in poorer countries. It then considers the costs and benefits of IP e ... Read more
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The Economics of Copyright
Ray Corrigan & Mark Rogers
Volume 6, Number 3, 2005, pages 153 - 174
The copyright industries—such as music, film, software and publishing—occupy a significant and growing share of economic activity. Current copyright law protects the creator for up to 70 years after their death, significantly longer than patent protection (20 years after invention). Copyright law ai ... Read more
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The ‘Death of Distance’
What does it mean for economic development?
Nicholas Crafts
Volume 6, Number 3, 2005, pages 1 - 14
This paper considers the implications of falling transport and communications costs for the spread of economic activity around the world. The evidence suggests that location has been and continues to be an important determinant of income levels. The Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) ... Read more
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Fifty Years of Economic Growth in Western Europe
No longer catching up but falling behind?
Nicholas Crafts
Volume 5, Number 2, 2004, pages 131 - 145
Productivity growth in virtually all west European countries exceeded that of the
United States throughout the period 1950 to 1995. Since then American
productivity performance has strengthened and that of the EU has weakened.
The most important reason is contrasting experiences with Information ... Read more
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Information Technology and the G7 Economies
Dale W. Jorgenson
Volume 4, Number 4, 2003, pages 139 - 169
A powerful surge in investment in information technology and equipment after
1995 characterizes all of the G7 economies. This accounts for a large portion of
the resurgence in US economic growth, but contributes substantially to economic
growth in the remaining G7 economies as well. Another signi ... Read more
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A Decade of Trade Reforms in India
How it compares with East Asia
Ramkishen S. Rajan & Rahul Sen
Volume 3, Number 4, 2002, pages 87 - 100
This paper summarises recent trade reforms in India and documents the extent
to which the country has integrated with the global trading system. The paper
argues that India has made important strides since the initiation of reforms in
1991. Although it lags significantly behind most of East Asia ... Read more
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In Praise of Historical Economics
Bradford DeLong on growth, development and instability
An interview with introduction by Brian Snowdon
Volume 3, Number 1, 2002, pages 59 - 100
Professor Bradford DeLong is a leading macroeconomist and economic historian,
and is best known for his work on economic growth, business cycles, finance and
issues relating to international economic history and globalisation. However, his interests and publications cover a vast range of issues an ... Read more
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Measuring Information Technology and Productivity in the New Economy
Kevin J. Stiroh
Volume 3, Number 1, 2002, pages 43 - 58
The growing importance of information technology raises significant challenges
for statisticians and economists. The US national accounts now incorporate
sophisticated measurement tools to capture the rapid rates of technological
change and dramatic improvements in the performance/price ratio of ... Read more
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Keeping the Keynesian Faith
Alan Blinder on the evolution of macroeconomics
An interview with introduction by Brian Snowdon
Volume 2, Number 2, 2001, pages 105 - 140
This wide-ranging discussion takes in the development of macroeconomics and the influence of ideas and events on that development, the nature and causes of the Great Depression, Keynesianism, lessons from the high-inflation period of the 1970s, the role of macroeconomic policy, and the idea of the ‘ ... Read more
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Is the Internet Better than Electricity?
Martin Brookes & Zaki Wahhaj
Volume 2, Number 2, 2001, pages 53 - 72
This article looks at the economic impact of electrification in the United States to
gain insights about the possible consequences of today’s information
technologies. A close study reveals that electrification significantly raised
productivity growth by spurring a redesign of the optimal factory ... Read more
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E-money: Will it Take Off?
Peter Spencer
Volume 2, Number 1, 2001, pages 121 - 136
The growth of the Internet and e-commerce raises some interesting questions for those interested in the monetary system. Is a new Internet-based digital
transactions medium likely to evolve and what would the consequences of this
be for taxation, monetary and financial stability? This article revi ... Read more
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From Rags to Riches
Ireland’s economic boom
Brendan Walsh
Volume 1, Number 4, 2000, pages 113 - 133
This article explores the factors behind the Irish
economic renaissance of the 1990s. These include the fiscal correction of the 1980s, the availability of an ample supply of well-educated labour, a
competitive exchange rate, and the inflow of EU aid. The reintroduction of ‘social
partnership’ is ... Read more
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Technical Progress and Global Warming
The case for a technology policy
Dennis Anderson
Volume 1, Number 3, 2000, pages 81 - 99
The case is argued for a larger and more explicit role for technology policies in responding to climate change. Policies and institutions set up during the Cold War arms race could be reformed and redirected towards the goal of making renewable energy a viable competitor to carbon-emitting fuels. Pu ... Read more
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Prophesies of Doom at the Turn of the Millennium
A critical review of the fallacies about the end of work
Mauricio Rojas
Volume 1, Number 1, 2000, pages 21 - 38
Predictions about the "end of work" are widespread. A growing body of literature argues that growth is destroying more jobs than it created. New technology and globalisation are syndicated as the causes of this development that in the long run will condemn the majority of mankind to exclusion and po ... Read more
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