The origin of this special issue of The Annals lies in a conference on the interaction between economics and other disciplines held under the auspices of the Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics at San Diego State University. One example of fruitful interaction between economics and other disciplines is found in the study of economic development and cultural institutions such as language, prescribed gender roles, and ethnic identity. The articles in this volume offer fresh perspectives on the possible effects of cultural institutions on economic performance and politics. Many of the articles also investigate reasons why particular institutions arise and, in particular, how economic development affects cultural institutions.

This issue of The Annals offers new perspectives on various aspects of culture related to politics and the economy, including democracy, corruption, women s rights, wedding expenditures, and ethnic cleansing. The articles show that the analyses of economists can be useful in these new areas of application. To the extent that these are empirical analyses, research by economists does not necessarily differ from that performed by political scientists or sociologists studying similar issues. Some of the contributions to this volume show that some ideas found in economic theories, even though they were developed in the West, are applicable universally and can help us understand cultural institutions.

While the articles in this collection indicate that applying economic analysis to the study of culture is a productive avenue for research, this special issue raises more questions than it answers. We are still very far from understanding why cultures differ so dramatically. There is room for much further research into the multiple interrelationships between various economic, political, and cultural institutions. In this endeavor, we may benefit not only from more economic analysis but also from sociological and anthropological analysis and from cooperation between disciplines.

We also need more studies of investments in cultural capital by individuals, firms, families, and other groups, in part because such studies can help up design strategies and policies that work effectively to promote economic and social development. It is hoped that this volume of The Annals reveals the inevitability of dealing with cultural differences between countries and cultural changes over time."

This volume contains essays by or about Jacob Mincer who is a founding father of modern empirical labor economics. This personal collection not only examines Mincer 's research, it also assesses the impact of his work on the careers of several important economists and includes portions of Mincer 's correspondence with those scholars. Contributors to this volume include Gary Becker and James Heckman, each of whom is a Nobel Laureate and former Mincer collaborator.

Marriage is an institution that plays a central role in most societies. As it affects decisions regarding labor supply, consumption, reproduction, and other important decisions, marriage receives considerable attention in academic circles. Much research has been done about marriage, principally by sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists.

Marriage is an institution that plays a central role in most societies. As it affects decisions regarding labor supply, consumption, reproduction, and other important decisions, marriage receives considerable attention in academic circles. Much research has been done about marriage, principally by sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists.

Economics, like most other social sciences, is not a pure discipline. Indeed, it has been enhanced by the fact that there is so much overlap between it and the related fields of business, industrial relations, political science, social psychology, and sociology. This book is the first attempt to explain how work in economics has influenced and benefited from a merging of economic analysis with the research practices of these related fields of study. With contributions from leading economists from around the world, it demonstrates how economics is leading the way toward a more unified social science.

Economics, like most other social sciences, is not a pure discipline. Indeed, it has been enhanced by the fact that there is so much overlap between it and the related fields of business, industrial relations, political science, social psychology, and sociology. This book is the first attempt to explain how work in economics has influenced and benefited from a merging of economic analysis with the research practices of these related fields of study. With contributions from leading economists from around the world, it demonstrates how economics is leading the way toward a more unified social science.

While this book contains numerous facts and empirical findings and touches on policy issues, its main contribution to the existing literature lies in the theoretical perspective it offers. The core of this book is a general equilibrium theory of labor and marriage presented in Chapter 2, which provides the conceptual framework for the rest of the chapters. Two major implications of the theory are sex ratio effects and compensating differentials in marriage. The book demonstrates how a few core concepts, linked via economic analysis, help explain a multitude of findings based on statistical analyses of data from a wide variety of cultures. It is hoped that readers of this book will improve their understanding of how marriage works to help us design better economic and social policies as well as help people live better and happier lives, making the book of interest to not only economists but sociologists and anthropologists as well.

While this book contains numerous facts and empirical findings and touches on policy issues, its main contribution to the existing literature lies in the theoretical perspective it offers. The core of this book is a general equilibrium theory of labor and marriage presented in Chapter 2, which provides the conceptual framework for the rest of the chapters. Two major implications of the theory are sex ratio effects and compensating differentials in marriage. The book demonstrates how a few core concepts, linked via economic analysis, help explain a multitude of findings based on statistical analyses of data from a wide variety of cultures. It is hoped that readers of this book will improve their understanding of how marriage works to help us design better economic and social policies as well as help people live better and happier lives, making the book of interest to not only economists but sociologists and anthropologists as well.

This volume contains essays by or about Jacob Mincer who is a founding father of modern empirical labor economics. This personal collection not only examines Mincer 's research, it also assesses the impact of his work on the careers of several important economists and includes portions of Mincer 's correspondence with those scholars. Contributors to this volume include Gary Becker and James Heckman, each of whom is a Nobel Laureate and former Mincer collaborator.

The origin of this special issue of The Annals lies in a conference on the interaction between economics and other disciplines held under the auspices of the Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics at San Diego State University. One example of fruitful interaction between economics and other disciplines is found in the study of economic development and cultural institutions such as language, prescribed gender roles, and ethnic identity. The articles in this volume offer fresh perspectives on the possible effects of cultural institutions on economic performance and politics. Many of the articles also investigate reasons why particular institutions arise and, in particular, how economic development affects cultural institutions.

This issue of The Annals offers new perspectives on various aspects of culture related to politics and the economy, including democracy, corruption, women s rights, wedding expenditures, and ethnic cleansing. The articles show that the analyses of economists can be useful in these new areas of application. To the extent that these are empirical analyses, research by economists does not necessarily differ from that performed by political scientists or sociologists studying similar issues. Some of the contributions to this volume show that some ideas found in economic theories, even though they were developed in the West, are applicable universally and can help us understand cultural institutions.

While the articles in this collection indicate that applying economic analysis to the study of culture is a productive avenue for research, this special issue raises more questions than it answers. We are still very far from understanding why cultures differ so dramatically. There is room for much further research into the multiple interrelationships between various economic, political, and cultural institutions. In this endeavor, we may benefit not only from more economic analysis but also from sociological and anthropological analysis and from cooperation between disciplines.

We also need more studies of investments in cultural capital by individuals, firms, families, and other groups, in part because such studies can help up design strategies and policies that work effectively to promote economic and social development. It is hoped that this volume of The Annals reveals the inevitability of dealing with cultural differences between countries and cultural changes over time."