Future Prosperity

To assure future prosperity, it is crucial that economies have the institutions in place to realize their full potential and that production and consumption decisions are made in a sustainable manner. The researchers in this theme are driven to understand how globalization, socio-economic networks, and technological change shape the structure of the economy and thereby the business and economic landscape for firms and people. Globalization and technological change are generally beneficial but create winners and losers, by affecting job opportunities and wages, opportunities for firms to innovate, source and sell abroad, and by raising new challenges for structural transformation in lower-income countries. Healthy competition is crucial for an environment conducive to innovation. Through effective competition policy, we can make sure that market power is kept in check, providing room for new and innovative firms to prosper. This also closely relates to sustainable development. For societal welfare to improve, we need to understand how average living standards change, but also how markets and institutions can foster sustainable forms of consumption and production that avoid negative social and environmental consequences, including inequality, limited social mobility and diminished perspectives for future generations.

Key researchers

• Prof. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk
• Prof. Jutta Bolt
• Prof. Steven Brakman
• Prof. Erik Dietzenbacher
• Prof. Pedro de Faria
• Prof. Harry Garretsen
• Prof. Marco Haan
• Prof. Robert Inklaar
• Prof. Herman de Jong
• Prof. Robert Lensink
• Prof. Bart Los
• Prof. Adriaan Soetevent
• Prof. Marcel Timmer