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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eeh.2010.02.002 Byline: Leandro Prados de la Escosura, Joan R. Roses Keywords: Human capital; Growth; Labor productivity; Total factor productivity; Spain Abstract: We investigate human capital accumulation in Spain using income- and education-based alternative approaches. We, then, assess human capital impact on labor productivity growth and discuss the implications of its alternative measures for TFP growth. Trends in human capital are similar with either measure but the skill-premium approach fits better Spanish historical experience. As education is a high income elastic good, human capital growth computed with the education-based approach seems upward biased for the recent past. Human capital provided a positive albeit small contribution to labor productivity growth facilitating technological innovation. Author Affiliation: Departamento de Historia Economica e Instituciones and Instituto Figuerola, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain Article History: Received 14 August 2009 Article Note: (footnote) [star] This paper has been presented at Session D5, 'Human Capital Formation and Economic Growth since the 19th Century', 15th IEHA Congress (Utrecht, August 2009).

A comparison of purchasing power parity for many member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development over 170 years produces appropriate comparisons of welfare and productivity. This new examination shows earlier US leadership and closer positions between France and Britain in the 19th century.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0289.2009.00493_27.x Byline: leandro prados de la escosura (1) Author Affiliation: (1)Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Copyright of Economic History Research / Investigaciones de Historia Económica is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Historia Economica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on Human Development enlarging people's choice and this implies not only achievements in terms of a healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent material living standard. It mentions concern about the inclusion of liberal democracy in the Augmented Human Development Index (AHDI). It also mentions makes the point that democracy is just one possible way of aggregating preferences and that its inclusion in the index.

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0289.2007.00401_28.x Byline: leandro prados de la escosura (1) Author Affiliation: (1)Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Long-run trends in Africa's wellbeing are provided on the basis of a new index of human development, alternative to the UNDP's HDI. A long-run improvement in African human development is found that it falls short of those experienced in other developing regions. A closer look at Africa reveals the distinctive behaviour north and south of the Sahara, with Sub-Saharan Africa falling behind other developing regions and North Africa catching up. Education has been human development's driving force over time. Since the late 1980s, stagnating life expectancy largely due to the spread of HIV/AIDS and the arresting effect of economic mismanagement and political turmoil on growth, help to explain Africa's falling behind. Human development advancement since the mid-twentieth century is positively associated to being a coastal and resource-rich country and negatively to political-economic distortions. The large country variance of the recovery during the last decade suggests being cautious about the future's prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pessimistic flavour of the Human Development Reports appears to be in contradiction with their own numbers as developing countries fare comparatively better in human development than in per capita GDP terms. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by providing a new, 'improved' human development index (IHDI), informed by welfare economics. The IHDI is presented here alongside the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) HDI for the world and its main regions since the late 19th century. Social dimensions in the IHDI are derived, following ( Journal of Development Economics 41 (1993), pp. 307-336), with a convex achievement function, whereas a geometric average is employed to combine its dimensions (longevity, knowledge and income). Thus, the IHDI does not conceal the gap between rich and poor countries and casts a much less optimistic view than the conventional UNDP index, while it fits with the UNDP concern for international differences. The paper's findings highlight main weaknesses in human development dimensions of present-day developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the authors discuss its theme of inequality in economic development between Latin America and Europe.

Copyright of Revista de Economía Aplicada is the property of Revista de Economia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)