In this influential work, Richard A. Easterlinshows how the size of a generation the number of persons born in a particular year directly and indirectly affects the personal welfare of its members, the make-up and breakdown of the family, and the general well being of the economy.
" Easterlin] has made clear, I think unambiguously, that the baby-boom generation is economically underprivileged merely because of its size. And in showing this, he demonstrates that population size can be as restrictive as a factor as sex, race, or class on equality of opportunity in the U.S." Jeffrey Madrick,...

Taking a longer view than most literature on economic development, Richard A. Easterlin stresses the enormous contrast between the collective experience of the last half century in both developed and developing countries and what has gone before. An economic historian and demographer, the author writes in the tradition of the "new economic history," drawing on economic theory and quantitative evidence to interpret the historical experience of economic theory and population growth. He reaches beyond the usual disciplinary limits to draw, as appropriate, on sociology, political science,...

Drawing widely on social science and history, economist Richard Easterlin asks: Where is rapid economic growth taking us? Why has its spread throughout the world been so limited? What are the causes of the great twentieth century advances in life expectancy and the revolution in childbearing that has brought fertility worldwide to near-replacement levels? Finally, to what extent have free markets been the source of human improvement? The opening chapter demonstrates the evolution of Easterlin's unique approach, and why he is a "reluctant economist."

Drawing widely on social science and history, economist Richard Easterlin asks: Where is rapid economic growth taking us? Why has its spread throughout the world been so limited? What are the causes of the great twentieth century advances in life expectancy and the revolution in childbearing that has brought fertility worldwide to near-replacement levels? Finally, to what extent have free markets been the source of human improvement? The opening chapter demonstrates the evolution of Easterlin's unique approach, and why he is a "reluctant economist."

The second in a series of books published with the IZA, this volume presents Richard Easterlin's outstanding research on the analysis of subjective well-being, and on the relationship between demographic developments and economic outcomes. In both fields, his work has laid the foundations for enlarging the scope of traditional economic analysis and has increased our understanding of behavior in several important domains, such as fertility choices, labor market behavior, and the determinants of individual well-being.

Published with the IZA, this volume presents Richard Easterlin's outstanding research on the analysis of subjective well-being, and on the relationship between demographic developments and economic outcomes. In both fields, his work has laid the foundations for enlarging the scope of traditional economic analysis and has increased our understanding of behaviour in several important domains, such as fertility choices, labour market behaviour, and the determinants of individual well-being.
In various seminal contributions, Easterlin has demonstrated the importance of material aspirations...