Kicking Awaythe Ladder by Ha-Joon Chang

From the Publisher

'The most important book about the world economy to be published in years.' Prospect 'This book is a joy: a fantastically useful teaching aid... a 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 attention.' Charles Kindleberger, Emeritus Professor of Economics, MIT 'A scholarly tour-de-force… essential reading for industrial policy-makers in the twenty-first century.' Lance Taylor, Professor of Economics, New School University '…a lively, knowledgeable and original contribution to international political economy.' John Toye, Professor of Economics, University of Oxford '…an original and immensely valuable contribution to current debates on development.' Peter Evans, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley 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 an 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' by which they have climbed to the top, thereby preventing developing countries from adopting policies and institutions that they themselves used.

Peter Evans

While the countries of the global South are pressured with increasing intensity to adopt idealized versions of Anglo-American institutions, their growth rates relative to the industrial North are declining. In "Kicking Away the Ladder?", Ha-Joon Chang addresses this problem head-on by building on a careful historical analysis of the institutions that the now developed countries actually used to make their way to higher levels of affluence and contrasting these with the prescriptions that they are currently imposing on the South. This is an original and provocative work, an immensely valuable contribution to current debates on development. Even those who disagree with Chang’s arguments will find them too carefully grounded and cogently argued to be set aside. This book will become the focus of a broad and lively debate that will enrich development theory and challenge contemporary global policy-makers.

Lance Taylor

People have "always known" that leading economies used directed policies to industrialize when they were less affluent and then told poorer countries not to do the same. But this common knowledge had never been adequately documented until Ha-Joon Chang took on the task. "Kicking Away the Ladder?

John Toye

In this lively, knowledgeable and original contribution to international political economy, Ha-Joon Chang puts economic history at the centre of the current trade liberalization debate, arguing that developing countries should not be denied policy instruments used by Europe and America for their own development. He deserves our thanks for making this argument with rare force and skill.

Charles Kindleberger

A provocative critique of mainstream economists’ sermons directed to developing countries, amounting to "Do as I say, not as I did". It demands attention.

Stanley Engermann

Ha-Joon Chang has examined a large body of historical material to reach some very interesting and important conclusions about institutions and economic development. Not only is the historical picture re-examined, but Chang uses this to argue the need for a changing attitude to the institutions desired in today's developing nations. Both as historical reinterpretation and policy advocacy, "Kicking Away the Ladder?

What People Are Saying

Peter Evans
While the countries of the global South are pressured with increasing intensity to adopt idealized versions of Anglo-American institutions, their growth rates relative to the industrial North are declining. In "Kicking Away the Ladder?", Ha-Joon Chang addresses this problem head-on by building on a careful historical analysis of the institutions that the now developed countries actually used to make their way to higher levels of affluence and contrasting these with the prescriptions that they are currently imposing on the South. This is an original and provocative work, an immensely valuable contribution to current debates on development. Even those who disagree with Chang's arguments will find them too carefully grounded and cogently argued to be set aside. This book will become the focus of a broad and lively debate that will enrich development theory and challenge contemporary global policy-makers.(Peter Evans (University of California, Berkeley).)

Lance Taylor
People have "always known" that leading economies used directed policies to industrialize when they were less affluent and then told poorer countries not to do the same. But this common knowledge had never been adequately documented until Ha-Joon Chang took on the task. "Kicking Away the Ladder?" is a scholarly tour-de-force and essential reading for industrial policy-makers in the 21st century.(Lance Taylor, Professor of Economics, New School University, USA.)

John Toye
In this lively, knowledgeable and original contribution to international political economy, Ha-Joon Chang puts economic history at the centre of the current trade liberalization debate, arguing that developing countries should not be denied policy instruments used by Europe and America for their own development. He deserves our thanks for making this argument with rare force and skill.(John Toye, Professor of Economics, University of Oxford, UK.)

Charles Kindleberger
A provocative critique of mainstream economists' sermons directed to developing countries, amounting to "Do as I say, not as I did". It demands attention.(Charles Kindleberger, Emeritus Professor of Economics, MIT, USA.)

Stanley Engermann
Ha-Joon Chang has examined a large body of historical material to reach some very interesting and important conclusions about institutions and economic development. Not only is the historical picture re-examined, but Chang uses this to argue the need for a changing attitude to the institutions desired in today's developing nations. Both as historical reinterpretation and policy advocacy, "Kicking Away the Ladder?" deserves a wide audience among economists, historians, and members of the policy establishment.(Stanley Engermann, Professor of Economic History, Rochester University, USA.)

Product Details

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Table of Contents