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Por qué fracasan los paísessecond-hand

2 editions · Economics and business

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An essay published in 2012 by the economists Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. It asks why some countries are rich and others poor, and answers that the key is not geography, climate or culture but institutions: inclusive ones spread power and encourage investment and innovation, while extractive ones let an elite take the wealth. It opens with the two Nogales, one in Arizona and one in Sonora, and over fifteen chapters works through cases from ancient Rome to present-day China.

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Who it's for
For readers interested in economic history, politics and development who enjoy plenty of historical examples. Worth knowing: it has critics; Francis Fukuyama, among others, felt it oversimplifies.
Why people still read it
It was a bestseller, was praised by Nobel-winning economists such as Kenneth Arrow and Michael Spence, and in 2024 its authors received the Nobel prize in economics, together with Simon Johnson, for their work on the prosperity of nations.

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