What were the causes and effects of the Golden Age?

Answer 1

Athens' Golden Age arose from its use if the funds of the anti-Persian League (Delian League) for its own benefit after it turned the League into a virtual empire of its own.

The funds were diverted from their purpose and used to glorify Athens and put half its population on the public payroll. The money bought buildings (Parthenon etc), sponsored the arts, philosophy, literature and science and lifted living standards of the city, and attracted the best talent from the other cities of the Greek world.

Comparatively it was a Golden Age for Athens, but not for the other cities which were compelled to pay for it. It lasted until Athens over-reached itself and was stripped of its empire after a disastrous 27-year war, after which paying for it itself brought the city back to reality.