University of Southern California
University of Southern California Law and Economics Working Paper Series
Modern Economic Growth and Quality of Life: Cross Sectional and Time Series Evidence
Abstract
To what extent are improvements in quality of life (material living levels, health, education, political and civil rights, happiness, and the like) associated with economic growth? International comparisons of quality of life (QoL) conditions almost always point to a strong positive association with real GDP per capita. Historical experience, however, frequently belies the results of these comparisons. More often than not the timing of various improvements in QoL, material living levels excepted, is different from that in real GDP per capita -- some indicators preceding, others following. Moreover, the sequence of improvements in various aspects of QoL is not always the same from one part of the world to another. And sometimes, as in the case of happiness and life satisfaction, QoL indicators remain unchanged despite a doubling or more of real GDP per capita. In contrast to the results of simple international point-of-time comparisons, history suggests that improvements in many realms of life are not an automatic result of economic growth.
Subject Area
Economics
Recommended Citation
Richard A. Easterlin and Laura Angelescu,
"Modern Economic Growth and Quality of Life: Cross Sectional and Time Series Evidence"
(April 2007).
University of Southern California.
University of Southern California Law and Economics Working Paper Series.
Working Paper 67.
http://law.bepress.com/usclwps/lewps/art67
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