Government, Institutions and Economic Activity: A Long Term Analysis

Using national and regional data for 30-50 countries over multiple centuries, this project will examine the
effects of itemised government expenditure and revenue on productivity, investment, saving, labour force
participation and R&D. The results will shed light on the macroeconomic effects of different revenue and
spending categories (education, transfers, etc.). In addition, the project will determine which factors have
been responsible for the increase of government size over the past two centuries. The results will further
reveal which government revenue and expenditure items are most conducive to economic welfare and
growth.