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."

Richard A. Easterlin is University Professor and Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, University of Southern California. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, past president of the Population Association, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a former Guggenheim Fellow. He is editor of Happiness in Economics (2002) and author or co-author of Growth Triumphant: The 21st Century in Historical Perspective (1996), The Fertility Revolution (1985), Birth and Fortune: The Impact of Numbers on Personal Welfare (1980; 2nd edition 1987), and Population, Labor Force, and Long Swings in Economic Growth: The American Experience (1968).

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 postmaterialistic society?; Part II. Economic History: 4. Why isn't the whole world developed?; 5. Kuznets cycles and modern economic growth; 6. Industrial revolution and mortality revolution: two of a kind?; 7. How beneficent is the market? A look at the modern history of mortality; Part III. Demography: 8. An economic framework for fertility analysis; 9. New perspectives on the demographic transition; 10. Does human fertility adjust to the environment? Population change and farm settlement in the northern United States; 11. America's baby boom and bust, 1940-80: causes and consequences; 12. Preferences and prices in choice of career: the switch to business; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index.