The tyranny of experts
Subtitle: economists, dictators, and the forgotten rights of the poor
By: William Easterly
Publisher: Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Book Group
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 394
ISBN-13: 9780465031252
Subjects: Economic policy; Political aspects; Poverty
Description: 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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 355-380) and index.
Table of contents: title: Pt. 1. The debate that never happened. Introduction; title: Two Nobel Laureates and the debate they never had; title: Pt. 2. Why the debate never happened : the real history of the development idea. Once upon a time in China; title: Race, war, and the fate of Africa; title: One day in Bogotá; title: Pt. 3. The blank slate versus learning from history. Values : the long struggle for individual rights; title: Institutions : we oppress them if we can; title: The majority dream; title: Pt. 4. Nations versus individuals. Homes or prisons? : Nations and migrations; title: How much do nations matter?; title: Pt. 5. Conscious design versus spontaneous solutions. Markets : the association of problem-solvers; title: Technology : how to succeed without knowing how; title: Leaders : how we are seduced by benevolent autocrats; title: Conclusion.