The seminar will cover theoretical and empirical research on the relation between economic and social prosperity. Economic prosperity is primarily about goods and services produced and consumed by economic agents. Social prosperity, by contrast, is about collaborative relationships among agents. These relationships may induce individuals to make decisions beyond enlightened self-interest in order to address collective challenges. In the process, agency becomes distributed across individual and group levels. The relations between these two types of prosperity is discussed. Then we explore consistent measures of social and economic prosperity across G20 member states through time and examine the associated empirical regularities. Finally, policy implications are discussed.

About the speaker

The seminar will cover theoretical and empirical research on the relation between economic and social prosperity. Economic prosperity is primarily about goods and services produced and consumed by economic agents. Social prosperity, by contrast, is about collaborative relationships among agents. These relationships may induce individuals to make decisions beyond enlightened self-interest in order to address collective challenges. In the process, agency becomes distributed across individual and group levels. The relations between these two types of prosperity is discussed. Then we explore consistent measures of social and economic prosperity across G20 member states through time and examine the associated empirical regularities. Finally, policy implications are discussed.