Kicking Away the Ladder
Development Strategy in Historical Perspective
About This Book
'The most important book about the world economy to be published in years.' 'Prospect'
'This book is a joy: a fantastically useful teaching aida very necessary historical conscience in an age of amnesia.' 'The Business Economist'
'A provocative critique of mainstream economists' sermons directed to developing countries. It demands attnetion.' Charles Kindleberger, Emeritus Professor of Economics, MIT
How did the rich countries really become rich? In this provocative study, Ha-Joon Chang examines the great pressure on developing countries from the developed world to adopt certain 'good policies' and 'good institutions', seen today as necessary for economic development. Adopting a historical approach, Dr Chang finds that the economic evolution of now-developed countries differed dramatically from the procedures that they now recommend to poorer nations. His conclusions are compelling and disturbing: that developed countries are attempting to 'kick away the ladder' with which they have climbed to the top, thereby preventing developing counties from adopting policies and institutions that they themselves have used. This book is the winner of the 2003 Myrdal Prize, European Association of Evolutionary Political Economy.
Readership:
For policy makers, academics and research students in the field of economic development.
Author Information
Ha-Joon Chang teaches at the Faculty of Economics and Politics, University of Cambridge.
Table of Contents
Introduction: How did the Rich Countries Really Become Rich? Policies for Economic Development: Industrial, Trade and Technology Policies in Historical Perspective; Institutions and Economic Development: 'Good Governance' in Historical Perspective; Lessons for the Present; References; Notes; Index
