10 Excellent Books on Growth and Development
1) How China Escaped the Poverty Trap - @yuenyuenang
An excellent work on complexity economics, describing how optimal institutions develop and change through the development processes. Worth considering for rich countries too.
1) How China Escaped the Poverty Trap - @yuenyuenang
An excellent work on complexity economics, describing how optimal institutions develop and change through the development processes. Worth considering for rich countries too.
2) Economics of Development - Thirwall + Pacheco-LĂłpez.
A wonderful textbook on development econ. Includes both categories of development such as trade, health etc, and development theories, from the Lewis Model to dependency theory.
A wonderful textbook on development econ. Includes both categories of development such as trade, health etc, and development theories, from the Lewis Model to dependency theory.
3) The Economic Consequences of the US Mobilisation for the Second World War - Alexander J Field
A fantastic recent work reassessing the long run growth effects of WW2 on the USA. Interesting implications for growth theory and TFP calculations.
A fantastic recent work reassessing the long run growth effects of WW2 on the USA. Interesting implications for growth theory and TFP calculations.
4) Why Australia Prospered -Ian W McLean
Accounts of economic development are often incredibly reductive, focusing on a singular driver. This history is an antidote to that tendency, detailing how the sources of growth in a single country, here Australia, have changed over time.
Accounts of economic development are often incredibly reductive, focusing on a singular driver. This history is an antidote to that tendency, detailing how the sources of growth in a single country, here Australia, have changed over time.
5) The Rise and Fall of American Growth - Robert J Gordon
Gordon's charting of American technological change puts current debates in perspective. Though some describe him as a "techno-pessmist", his pessimism largely due to knowing just how dramatic past changes were.
Gordon's charting of American technological change puts current debates in perspective. Though some describe him as a "techno-pessmist", his pessimism largely due to knowing just how dramatic past changes were.
6) Fully Grown - Dietrich Vollrath
A terrific, and highly accessible account of the productivity slowdown. Argues the primary drivers are signs of economic 'success': aging population and shift to services. Brilliant intro to growth accounting.
A terrific, and highly accessible account of the productivity slowdown. Argues the primary drivers are signs of economic 'success': aging population and shift to services. Brilliant intro to growth accounting.
7) The Power of Creative Destruction -Aghion, Antonin + Bunel
This book builds a coherent model of schumpeterian competition. Importantly, it pairs this with quantitative evidence. The primary metric used: patent quantity and quality has problems but it's an impressive attempt.
This book builds a coherent model of schumpeterian competition. Importantly, it pairs this with quantitative evidence. The primary metric used: patent quantity and quality has problems but it's an impressive attempt.
8) Creating A Learning Society - Stiglitz + Greenwald
Best book I've encountered on the microeconomics of growth when you incorporate technological progress endogenously. Models become very complicated once policy aims for dynamic growth.
Best book I've encountered on the microeconomics of growth when you incorporate technological progress endogenously. Models become very complicated once policy aims for dynamic growth.
9) GDP: A Short But Affectionate History @DianeCoyle1859
GDP gets a lot of flak, some justified, some not. This is a great intro to understand why macroeconomists still find it useful, charting its origins and outlining remaining issues. It's also very short!
GDP gets a lot of flak, some justified, some not. This is a great intro to understand why macroeconomists still find it useful, charting its origins and outlining remaining issues. It's also very short!
10) An Economist’s Lessons on Happiness - Richard Easterlin
Easterlin is best known for his claim that happiness at a national level does not increase with income over time (Easterlin Paradox). This is a great intro to his work. Controversial but definitely worth engaging with.
Easterlin is best known for his claim that happiness at a national level does not increase with income over time (Easterlin Paradox). This is a great intro to his work. Controversial but definitely worth engaging with.
As usual, curious for additions and comments!
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