The Reluctant Economist: Perspectives on Economics, Economic History, and Demography [Hardcover]

These essays explore the nature of worldwide economic growth, population, and fertility changes.Drawing widely on social science and history, economist Richard A. 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 advance in life expectancy? Of the revolution in childbearing that is bringing fertility worldwide to near-replacement levels? To what extent have free markets been the source of human improvement? The opening chapter gives an autobiographical account of the evolution of Easterlin's unique approach, and why he is a reluctant economist .Drawing widely on social science and history, economist Richard A. 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 advance in life expectancy? Of the revolution in childbearing that is bringing fertility worldwide to near-replacement levels? To what extent have free markets been the source of human improvement? The opening chapter gives an autobiographical account of 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 .List of tables and figures; Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Economics: 1. The reluctant economist; 2. Economics and the use of subjective testimony; 3. Is economic growth creating a new postmaterilc2