Power of Greed: Collective Action in International Development

Why do so many international development projects fail? Is it because poor regions are inherently corrupt, or is it because developers and donors do not properly take into account how local survival mechanisms work? In a lively and provocative analysis of community development, Michael Rosberg challenges the received wisdom of international development agencies, suggesting that in order for development to be successful it must speak directly to the self-interest of individuals in emerging nations. In an accessible and personal work, The Power of Greed deftly navigates the thickets of morality, theory, and ideology to arrive at pragmatic strategies that demonstrate that when an individual's self-interest is creatively and appropriately engaged in cooperative enterprise, the greater good of the community can be well served.

Michael Rosberg was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada. He was educated at Cornell University, the University of Toronto, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the University of Wisconsin, with a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the Land Tenure Centre. Currently, he is a Lecturer at the University of Belize in Central America and a socio-economic consultant for multi-lateral organizations and Belizean NGOs.