Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine? Is it culture, the weather, geography?
Perhaps ignorance of what the right policies are? Simply, no. None of these factors is either definitive or destiny. Otherwise, how to explain why Botswana has become one of the fastest growing countries in the world, while other African nations, such as Zimbabwe, the Congo, and Sierra Leone, are mired in poverty and violence?
Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson conclusively show that it is man-made political and economic institutions that underlie economic success (or lack of it). Korea, to take just one of their fascinating examples, is a remarkably homogeneous nation, yet the people of North Korea are among the poorest on earth while their brothers and sisters in South Korea are among the richest. The south forged a society that created incentives, rewarded innovation, and allowed everyone to participate in economic opportunities.
The economic success thus spurred was sustained because the government became accountable and responsive to citizens and the great mass of people. Sadly, the people of the north have endured decades of famine, political repression, and very different economic institutions—with no end in sight. The differences between the Koreas is due to the politics that created these completely different institutional trajectories.
Based on fifteen years of original research Acemoglu and Robinson marshall extraordinary historical evidence from the Roman Empire, the Mayan city-states, medieval Venice, the Soviet Union, Latin America, England, Europe, the United States, and Africa to build a new theory of political economy with great relevance for the big questions of today, including: - China has built an authoritarian growth machine.
Will it continue to grow at such high speed and overwhelm the West? - Are America’s best days behind it? Are we moving from a virtuous circle in which efforts by elites to aggrandize power are resisted to a vicious one that enriches and empowers a small minority? - What is the most effective way to help move billions of people from the rut of poverty to prosperity?
More philanthropy from the wealthy nations of the West? Or learning the hard-won lessons of Acemoglu and Robinson’s breakthrough ideas on the interplay between inclusive political and economic institutions? Why Nations Fail will change the way you look at—and understand—the world."
Linda (verified owner) –
Fantastic writing, that painted such a stark and realistic picture. I learned a lot and the story left me with lots to reflect upon about human beings, family, and the effects of politics on the people it is supposed to be for.
I am so proud of this Kenyan writer. I highly recommend this book.
Linda (verified owner) –
In Once There Wad a Star, Meshack Yobby masterfully weaves a tale that gives one compassion for the human being, the human being with hopes and beliefs who is just trying to lead life and care for a family the best they know. And then he drenches you with a healthy dose of reality, several times, starkly illuminating the effects of poor or selfish or power-hungry leadership on the ordinary person.
I really liked the characters in the book, beginning with Ismael Muse, whose family we follow in this story. The writing is really good.
The amount of research that must have gone into the process of writing this book is staggering. I discovered just how little I actually know about Somalia, and the historical connections with her neighbours.
This is an incredible debut novel. I highly recommend it.
George Pacho –
‘Once there was a Star’ is captivating and eye opening at how ethereal our percieved happiness is. With every flip of the page, the violence potrayed in the book is reminiscent of today’s rot in the society where the power hungry, dishonest politians and crooked gorvernmet officials continuously loot, maim and kill our future with no regard. The book is emotionally provocative and allows a reader to get in touch with all emotions known to man. I thorougly enjoyed the book, albeit saddening it was.