"Throughout history, some combination of government intevention, protectionism, and strategic investment has driven successful development. Yet despite the demonstrable success of this approach, Western economists have insisted instead on the importance of free trade for developing economics. How can this be? Leading heterodox economist Erik Reinert's invigorating history of economic development shows that in the standoff between government interventionists and free-market purists, the issue is not that one is more correct, but that the winning nations tend to favor whatever benefits them most. As Western countries begin to sense that the rules of the game they set were rigged, Reinert's classic book gains new urgency. His unique and edifying approach tothe history of economic development is critical reading to understand how we got here and what to do next."--Back cover.
