The article explores how the rate of economic growth is influenced by preferences, policies, and scale variables. Contrary to some theories, empirical evidence suggests that growth is not necessarily tied to preferences. By analyzing a model based on U.S. data, the researchers found that while policy changes don't directly impact growth rates, they do have significant effects on welfare and intermediate growth. This suggests that focusing solely on long-term growth may not provide a complete picture of what drives R&D investment and productivity growth.