Using cross-sectional time series data, we examine the effects of income, institutions and social capital on literacy and life expectancy. An improvement in institutions has positive influence on literacy but does not seem to affect life expectancy. In addition, countries with high income may...

Using cross-sectional time series data from a large group of African countries, we examine the effects of income, institutions and social capital - with emphasis on the latter - on literacy and life expectancy. The empirical results confirm that income has a positive contribution. We also show...

Policy-makers worldwide are embarking on school programmes aimed at boosting students' resilience. One facet of resilience is a belief about cause and effect in life, locus of control. I test whether positive control beliefs work as a psychological buffer against health shocks in adulthood. To...