Prosperity, power and poverty: Why some countries do better than others

by Daron Acemoglu (Author), James A. Robinson (Author), Philippe Aghion (Preface), Patrick Hersant (Translator)

original title: Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty (English)

Why are some countries rich and others poor? Is it due to culture, climate, geography? Or is it the result of the ignorance of political leaders? Acemoglu and Robinson show with numerous examples that these answers do not hold water. History and economic analysis suggest a different explanation: it is the presence or absence of certain political and economic institutions that ensure or prevent progress towards prosperity. From “extractive” institutions – protecting the interests of a powerful elite at the expense of the common good – to “inclusive” institutions – which set limits on the influence of the powerful, eliminate discrimination and promote innovation – the passage is littered with obstacles. Acemoglu and Robinson analyze them in detail, drawing on an impressive array of examples, drawn from the history of the Roman Empire, the Maya city-states, medieval Venice, the Soviet Union, the Latin America, Africa and Western countries. They thus elaborate a new synthesis of political economy of undeniable relevance for the great political and economic challenges of today.

Authors biography :

Daron Acemoğlu, born September 3, 1967 in Istanbul, is a Turkish-American economist of Armenian origin, currently professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he holds the "Charles P. Kindleberger Chair".

Daron Acemoglu is Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and winner of the 2005 John Bates Clark Medal. He is one of the ten most cited economists in the world. James A Robinson is a professor of political science at Harvard University. The two authors previously published Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy (2005).

Product details
Paperback: 640 pages
Publisher: Markus Haller editions; Edition: 1 (October 15, 2015)
Collection: Exchanges
French language
ISBN-10: 2940427240
ISBN-13: 978-2940427246
Product dimensions: 22.5 x 3.4 x 14cm
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: 42,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#16 in Books > News, Politics and Society > Economy > International economy
#210 in Books > News, Politics and Society > Economy > Reference works > Academic books
#268 in Books > Higher education > University > Economic and social administration.