This paper investigates the interplay between social capital, innovation and per capita income growth in the European … Union. We model and identify innovation as an important mechanism that transforms social capital into higher income levels …. In an empirical investigation of 102 European regions in the period 1990-2002, we show that higher innovation performance …

capital is positively influenced by the size of the R&D sector, sheds new light on innovation and growth as well as income …

-collectivism. The model predicts that more individualism leads to more innovation because of the social rewards associated with … innovation in an individualist culture. This cultural effect may offset the negative effects of bad institutions on growth … individualism on growth through innovation. Using genetic data as instruments for culture we provide strong evidence of a causal …