Institutions and Development

Mary M. Shirley

ISBN 10: 1845429680 / ISBN 13: 9781845429683

Published by Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 2008

About this Item

A landmark contribution to our understanding of economic development. This significant book argues that fundamental changes in deeply rooted institutions do not happen because of outsiders' money, advice, pressures, or even physical force; which explains why foreign aid has not, and can not, improve institutions. The impetus for changing institutions must come from within a society, and the author shows how groups of local scholars contribute to institutional change and development when the political opportunity presents itself. Both economic research and the history of foreign aid suggest that the largest barriers to development arise from a society's institutions - its norms and rules. The author draws on 35 years experience to explain how institutions drive economic development. She goes beyond the abstractions usually used to define institutions, providing numerous examples to illustrate the complex, interlocking, and persistent nature of real world rules and norms. This significant book argues that fundamental changes in deeply rooted institutions do not happen because of outsiders' money, advice, pressures, or even physical force; which explains why foreign aid has not, and can not, improve institutions. The impetus for changing institutions must come from within a society, and the author shows how groups of local scholars contribute to institutional change and development when the political opportunity presents itself. Providing an overview of how market supporting institutions evolved in Europe and why these institutions are weak or absent in most countries of the world, this book will be of interest to a wide audience of aid and development policymakers, academics, and students of economics, political science, management, and law.

Seller Inventory # 0072875

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Institutions and Development
• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1845429680
• ISBN 13: 9781845429683
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

A landmark contribution to our understanding of economic development.

This significant book argues that fundamental changes in deeply rooted institutions do not happen because of outsiders' money, advice, pressures, or even physical force; which explains why foreign aid has not, and can not, improve institutions. The impetus for changing institutions must come from within a society, and the author shows how groups of local scholars contribute to institutional change and development when the political opportunity presents itself.

Both economic research and the history of foreign aid suggest that the largest barriers to development arise from a society's institutions - its norms and rules. The author draws on 35 years experience to explain how institutions drive economic development. She goes beyond the abstractions usually used to define institutions, providing numerous examples to illustrate the complex, interlocking, and persistent nature of real world rules and norms. This significant book argues that fundamental changes in deeply rooted institutions do not happen because of outsiders' money, advice, pressures, or even physical force; which explains why foreign aid has not, and can not, improve institutions. The impetus for changing institutions must come from within a society, and the author shows how groups of local scholars contribute to institutional change and development when the political opportunity presents itself.

Providing an overview of how market supporting institutions evolved in Europe and why these institutions are weak or absent in most countries of the world, this book will be of interest to a wide audience of aid and development policymakers, academics, and students of economics, political science, management, and law.

About the Author

Mary M. Shirley, President, The Ronald Coase Institute, US