Economic Development Books

Showing 1-50 of 1,316
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (Hardcover)
by (shelved 19 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.09 — 62,596 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty (Hardcover)
by (shelved 12 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.27 — 24,343 ratings — published 2011
Rate this book
Clear rating
The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good (Paperback)
by (shelved 11 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.83 — 5,666 ratings — published 2006
Rate this book
Clear rating
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time (Paperback)
by (shelved 10 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.69 — 11,242 ratings — published 2005
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics The Elusive Quest for Growth: Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics (Paperback)
by (shelved 9 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.95 — 1,650 ratings — published 2001
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else (Paperback)
by (shelved 9 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.99 — 4,395 ratings — published 2000
Rate this book
Clear rating
How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region (Hardcover)
by (shelved 8 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.26 — 5,035 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
Development as Freedom Development as Freedom (Paperback)
by (shelved 8 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.11 — 7,106 ratings — published 1999
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It (Hardcover)
by (shelved 8 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.85 — 7,992 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 (Hardcover)
by (shelved 7 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.46 — 4,892 ratings — published 2000
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor (Paperback)
by (shelved 7 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.96 — 3,911 ratings — published 1998
Rate this book
Clear rating
Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa (Hardcover)
by (shelved 6 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.70 — 8,263 ratings — published 2009
Rate this book
Clear rating
More Than Good Intentions: How a New Economics Is Helping to Solve Global Poverty More Than Good Intentions: How a New Economics Is Helping to Solve Global Poverty (Hardcover)
by (shelved 6 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.95 — 998 ratings — published 2011
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 5 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.81 — 2,458 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
MITI and the Japanese Miracle: The Growth of Industrial Policy, 1925-1975 MITI and the Japanese Miracle: The Growth of Industrial Policy, 1925-1975 (Paperback)
by (shelved 5 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.02 — 201 ratings — published 1982
Rate this book
Clear rating
Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective (Paperback)
by (shelved 5 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.21 — 1,430 ratings — published 2002
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor (Hardcover)
by (shelved 5 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.87 — 1,370 ratings — published 2014
Rate this book
Clear rating
Abundance Abundance (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.94 — 37,994 ratings — published 2025
Rate this book
Clear rating
Poverty, by America Poverty, by America (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.27 — 61,025 ratings — published 2023
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths The Entrepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs. Private Sector Myths (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.95 — 3,364 ratings — published 2011
Rate this book
Clear rating
Economic Development (8th Edition) Economic Development (8th Edition)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.95 — 497 ratings — published 1977
Rate this book
Clear rating
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.47 — 113,512 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.20 — 5,729 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Great Rebalancing: Trade, Conflict, and the Perilous Road Ahead for the World Economy The Great Rebalancing: Trade, Conflict, and the Perilous Road Ahead for the World Economy (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.26 — 510 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.04 — 456,160 ratings — published 1997
Rate this book
Clear rating
Economic Development and Transition: Thought, Strategy, and Viability Economic Development and Transition: Thought, Strategy, and Viability (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.33 — 6 ratings — published 2009
Rate this book
Clear rating
Poor Numbers: How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics Poor Numbers: How We Are Misled by African Development Statistics (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.76 — 164 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty (Hardcover)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.93 — 1,461 ratings — published 2013
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Anti-Politics Machine: "Development," Depoliticization, and Bureaucratic Power in Lesotho The Anti-Politics Machine: "Development," Depoliticization, and Bureaucratic Power in Lesotho (Paperback)
by (shelved 4 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.29 — 645 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Power of Creative Destruction: Economic Upheaval and the Wealth of Nations The Power of Creative Destruction: Economic Upheaval and the Wealth of Nations (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.10 — 420 ratings — published 2021
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.62 — 3,886 ratings — published 2017
Rate this book
Clear rating
Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium Power and Plenty: Trade, War, and the World Economy in the Second Millennium (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.16 — 360 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.36 — 201,306 ratings — published 2018
Rate this book
Clear rating
Good Economics for Hard Times: Better Answers to Our Biggest Problems Good Economics for Hard Times: Better Answers to Our Biggest Problems (ebook)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.22 — 14,730 ratings — published 2019
Rate this book
Clear rating
Rate this book
Clear rating
How China Escaped the Poverty Trap How China Escaped the Poverty Trap (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.31 — 389 ratings — published 2016
Rate this book
Clear rating
Beating the Odds: Jump-Starting Developing Countries Beating the Odds: Jump-Starting Developing Countries (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.25 — 12 ratings — published 2017
Rate this book
Clear rating
Rethinking Development Economics (Anthem Frontiers of Global Political Economy and Development, 1) Rethinking Development Economics (Anthem Frontiers of Global Political Economy and Development, 1)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.06 — 49 ratings — published 2003
Rate this book
Clear rating
Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics: Entrepreneurship and the State Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics: Entrepreneurship and the State (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.92 — 228 ratings — published 2008
Rate this book
Clear rating
Rate this book
Clear rating
A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.76 — 1,290 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Competitive Advantage of Nations The Competitive Advantage of Nations (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.16 — 476 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
Clear rating
Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.31 — 27,332 ratings — published 1971
Rate this book
Clear rating
One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions, and Economic Growth One Economics, Many Recipes: Globalization, Institutions, and Economic Growth (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.08 — 288 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.74 — 177 ratings — published 2007
Rate this book
Clear rating
Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.09 — 7,011 ratings — published 1973
Rate this book
Clear rating
Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.05 — 506 ratings — published 1994
Rate this book
Clear rating
Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance (Paperback)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.14 — 733 ratings — published 1990
Rate this book
Clear rating
The New Geography of Jobs The New Geography of Jobs (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 4.03 — 2,758 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Quest for Prosperity: How Developing Economies Can Take Off The Quest for Prosperity: How Developing Economies Can Take Off (Hardcover)
by (shelved 3 times as economic-development)
avg rating 3.72 — 57 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating


Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr.
“The idea of waste is non existent in a Permacapital Economy.”
Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr., Principles of a Permaculture Economy

Kenneth A. Reinert
“The premise of this book is that basic goods, namely those goods and services that meet basic human needs, are at the center of human progress. The approach views basic goods as the ingredients of well-being in that they allow human beings to be secure, healthy, literate, and able to participate effectively in their societies. They are the material prerequisites of capability expansion and can help to support growth processes. Basic goods provision is part of minimalist approaches to ethics and systems of basic human rights, namely subsistence rights. Significant deprivations in basic goods and services are widespread, and we face significant challenges to overcoming these deprivations. Basic goods might not be what matters above all else, but they nonetheless matter a great deal.”
Kenneth A. Reinert, No Small Hope: Towards the Universal Provision of Basic Goods

More quotes...