The Quest for Prosperity: How Developing Economies Can Take Off: How Developing Economies Can Take Off - Updated Edition - Softcover

Lin, Justin Yifu

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0691163561 ISBN 13: 9780691163567

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2014

Synopsis

How can developing countries grow their economies? Most answers to this question center on what the rich world should or shouldn't do for the poor world. In The Quest for Prosperity, Justin Yifu Lin--the first non-Westerner to be chief economist of the World Bank--focuses on what developing nations can do to help themselves. Lin examines how the countries that have succeeded in developing their own economies have actually done it. Interwoven with insights, observations, and stories from Lin's travels as chief economist of the World Bank and his reflections on China's rise, this book provides a road map and hope for those countries engaged in their own quest for prosperity.

About this title

Review

"This is a must-read for anyone interested in the emerging consensus on development policy. Justin Yifu Lin makes a powerful case for a 'new structural economics' grounded in a very persuasive analysis of the evolution of ideas in economics. It will resonate especially well with practitioners familiar with the practical constraints of policymaking in developing countries."--Montek Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission of the Republic of India

"In this masterpiece, Justin Yifu Lin weaves together 250 years of economic thought with his own wisdom acquired during China's economic rise. He dares to envision the end of world poverty and spells out--thoughtfully, sensibly, and pragmatically--how this can be accomplished. It is impossible for an economist to write a better, or a more important, book."--George A. Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics

"Combining valuable insights from his experience in China, his time as the World Bank's chief economist, and the 2008 financial crisis, Justin Yifu Lin's recommendations for development policy reflect an impressive and unique personal journey."--Kemal Dervis, vice president of the Brookings Institution and former executive head of the UN Development Programme

"The Quest for Prosperity is an important book. Written with verve and clarity, it reflects a deep understanding of global economic issues, and proposes practical solutions that anyone concerned with the plight of the world's poor would be wise to read."--Robert Fogel, Nobel Laureate in Economics

"Justin Yifu Lin's life journey has been one of discovery driven by insatiable curiosity. His invaluable contributions to economic theory and policy in these turbulent times are distinctive because of the sharpness of his observations, his willingness to rigorously test a hypothesis, and his courage to posit emerging views. The Quest for Prosperity builds on his already substantial contribution to development economics. It is a must-read for all policymakers and students."--Trevor Manuel, minister in the presidency of the National Planning Commission of South Africa

"Justin Yifu Lin lays out an innovative framework for understanding the mystery of economic growth, drawing insightful conclusions about the experience of successful economies that should provide important inspiration to developing countries as they seek to expand their comparative advantages and design their own growth strategies."--Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, finance minister of Nigeria

"Justin Yifu Lin cracks the code of economic development in this extraordinary tour de force--offering a rare combination of personal experience, rigorous analysis, and empirical investigation. His powerful recipe will become an enduring feature of future development efforts."--Stephen S. Roach, former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia and author of The Next Asia

"Part personal narrative, part sophisticated economic analysis, this important book offers a new approach for accelerating economic development around the world. Justin Yifu Lin's exceptional grounding in Chinese realities and Chicago economics, as well as his extensive experience, shine throughout."--Dani Rodrik, author of The Globalization Paradox: Democracy and the Future of the World Economy

"This is a truly exciting book. Speaking directly to the reader and quoting Lewis Carroll as easily as Simon Kuznets, Justin Yifu Lin proposes a new approach to development economics that makes great sense."--Thomas C. Schelling, Nobel Laureate in Economics

"This book is a tour de force: a seminal contribution to development studies that is engagingly, even entertainingly written. Lin uses words, not statistics, to carry his arguments; and he illuminates abstract ideas with the dicta of people as diverse as Winston Churchill, Deng Xiaoping, and Mick Jagger."--Robert Wade, London School of Economics and Political Science

About the Author

Justin Yifu Lin is founding director and professor at the China Centre for Economic Research at Peking University. From 2008 to 2012, he served as chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank. His many books include Demystifying the Chinese Economy and Economic Development and Transition. He is a corresponding fellow of the British Academy, and a fellow of the World Academy of Sciences for the Developing World.

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0691163561
• ISBN 13: 9780691163567
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 360