The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor

Easterly, William

ISBN 10: 0465089739 / ISBN 13: 9780465089734

Published by Basic Books, 2015

About this Item

May have light to moderate shelf wear and/or a remainder mark. Complete. Clean pages. Seller Inventory # 1183099

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, ...

Publisher: Basic Books

Publication Date: 2015

Binding: paperback

Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis:

Over the last century, global poverty has largely been viewed as a technical problem that merely requires the right expert" solutions. Yet all too often, experts recommend solutions that fix immediate problems without addressing the systemic political factors that created them in the first place. Further, they produce an accidental collusion with benevolent autocrats," leaving dictators with yet more power to violate the rights of the poor.In The Tyranny of Experts , economist William Easterly, bestselling author of The White Man's Burden , traces the history of the fight against global poverty, showing not only how these tactics have trampled the individual freedom of the world's poor, but how in doing so have suppressed a vital debate about an alternative approach to solving poverty: freedom. Presenting a wealth of cutting-edge economic research, Easterly argues that only a new model of development,one predicated on respect for the individual rights of people in developing countries, that understands that unchecked state power is the problem and not the solution ,will be capable of ending global poverty once and for all.

Review:

"A provocative book that will rile the development world.... A timely blast against the complacency of those who think progress and prosperity can be detached from politics."--Guardian (UK)

"There is something indomitable about William Easterly, and he has struck the development establishment where it is weakest: its appalling human rights record."--Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Easterly is one of the most consistently interesting and provocative thinkers on development."--Bloomberg View

"This powerful polemic against top-down aid projects convinces."--Times of London (UK)

"Easterly has written a book that grabs a reader's attention from the first sentence.... Highly recommended."--Choice

"Fascinating."--Lancet

"The Tyranny of Experts is intellectual comfort food for people ... who are skeptical of the idea that the only things standing between us and a world free of poverty are insufficient funding and political will."--Cato Institute's Regulation

"Easterly delivers a scathing assault on the anti-poverty programs associated with both the United Nations and its political and private sector supporters.... A sharply written polemic intended to stir up debate about the aims of global anti-poverty campaigns"--Kirkus

"Easterly's research may help start a dialog about identifying better methods for alleviating global poverty and should assist readers interested in humanitarian efforts who want to draw their own conclusions about how to aid the world's poor."--Library Journal

"Easterly's message is simple: Before you offer a helping hand, look hard at the core beliefs that brought you good fortune."--Washington Post