Kicking away the ladder : development strategy in historical perspective / Ha-Joon Chang

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: How did the rich countries really become rich -- Policies for economic development: Industrial, trade and technology policies in historical perspective -- Institutions and economic development: 'Good governance' in historical perspective -- Lessons for the present.

How did the rich countries really become rich? In this provocative study, Ha-Joon Chang examines the great pressure on developing countries from the developed world to adopt certain 'good policies' and 'good institutions', seen today as necessary for economic development. Adopting a historical approach, Dr Chang finds that the economic evolution of now-developed countries differed dramatically from the procedures that they now recommend to poorer nations. His conclusions are compelling and disturbing: that developed countries are attempting to 'kick away the ladder' with which they have climbed to the top, thereby preventing developing counties from adopting policies and institutions that they themselves have used.