Bad Samaritans - Hardcover

Ha-Joon Chang

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 190521135X ISBN 13: 9781905211357

Publisher: Random House Books, 2007

Synopsis

It's rare that a book appears with a fresh perspective on world affairs, but renowned economist Ha-Joon Chang has some startlingly original things to say about the future of globalization. In theory, he argues, the world's wealthiest countries and supra-national institutions like the IMF, World Bank and WTO want to see all nations developing into modern industrial societies. In practice, though, those at the top are 'kicking away the ladder' to wealth that they themselves climbed. Why? Self-interest certainly plays a part. But, more often, rich and powerful governments and institutions are actually being 'Bad Samaritans': their intentions are worthy but their simplistic free-market ideology and poor understanding of history leads them to inflict policy errors on others. Chang demonstrates this by contrasting the route to success of economically vibrant countries with the very different route now being dictated to the world's poorer nations. In the course of this, he shows just how muddled the thinking is in such key areas as trade and foreign investment. He shows that the case for privatisation and against state involvement is far from proven. And he explores the ways in which attitudes to national cultures and political ideologies are obscuring clear thinking and creating bad policy. Finally, he argues the case for new strategies for a more prosperous world that may appall the 'Bad Samaritans'.

About this title

About the Author

Ha-Joon Chang is a Cambridge economist who has been on the editorial board of the Cambridge Journal of Economics since 1992. He has also worked as a consultant for the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, various UN agencies and for the governments of Canada, Japan, South Africa, the UK, and Venezuela. He has published numerous articles and books, most recently, Kicking Away the Ladder - Development Strategy in Historical Perspective (winner of the 2003 Myrdal Prize). In 2005, he and Richard Nelson of Columbia University received the Leontief Prize.

From the Back Cover

'A smart, lively and provocative book that offers us compelling
new ways to look at globalization'
Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001

'This is a marvellous book. Well researched, panoramic in its scope and
beautifully written, Bad Samaritans, is the perfect riposte to devotees of
a one-size-fits-all model of growth and globalization. I strongly urge you
to read it'
Larry Elliott, Economics Editor, Guardian

'Every orthodoxy needs effective critics. Ha-Joon Chang is probably the
world's most effective critic of globalization. He does not deny the
benefits to developing countries of integration into the world economy. But
he draws on the lessons of history to argue that they must be allowed to
integrate on their own terms'
Martin Wolf, Financial Times, author of 'Why Globalization Works'

From the Inside Flap

It's rare that a book appears with a fresh perspective on world affairs, but renowned economist Ha-Joon Chang has some startlingly original things to say about the future of globalization. In theory, he argues, the world's wealthiest countries and supra-national institutions like the IMF, World Bank and WTO want to see all nations developing into modern industrial societies. In practice, though, those at the top are 'kicking away the ladder' to wealth that they themselves climbed.

Why? The simple answer is that rich and powerful governments and institutions are 'Bad Samaritans': their intentions are often worthy, but their simplistic free-market ideology and faulty understanding of history leads them to inflict policy errors on others. Chang demonstrates this by contrasting the route to success taken by economically vibrant countries with the very different route now being dictated to the world's poorer nations. In the course of this, he shows just how muddled the thinking is in such key areas as trade and foreign investment. He shows that the case for privatization and against state involvement is far from proven. And he explores the ways in which prejudices about national cultures and political ideologies are obscuring clear analysis and creating bad policy. Finally, he argues the case for new strategies for a more prosperous world that will surprise but may - perhaps - convince the 'Bad Samaritans'.

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Books
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 190521135X
• ISBN 13: 9781905211357
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288