Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective

Description

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. 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 countries from adopting policies and institutions that they themselves have used.

Ha-Joon Chang teaches at the Faculty of Economics and Politics, University of Cambridge.

'The most important book about the world economy to be published in years.' -'Prospect' 'Highly relevant to today's debates about the role of policies and institutions in development as well as the role of government in general... It is a great contribution, not least for its historical approach, and will continue to influence the debate on development.' -Seb Bytyci, 'ID: International Dialogue, A Multidisciplinary Journal of World Affairs' 'This book is a joy: a fantastically useful teaching aid...a very necessary historical conscience in an age of amnesia.' -'The Business Economist' 'This is an intriguing book that raises important issues. Recommended.' -J. M. Nowakowski, Muskingum College, in 'Choice'