Leading Issues in Economic Development [Paperback]

Gerald M. Meier (Author), James E. Rauch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195115899 | ISBN-13: 978-0195115895 | Publication Date: February 24, 2000 | Edition: 7

Now in its seventh edition, Leading Issues in Economic Development introduces a new co-author, James E. Rauch. Maintaining the unique structure that the book has established over the last 35 years, Rauch has revised and updated this seventh edition to strengthen the analytical and quantitative dimensions and to clarify contemporary and future problems of development policy. The co-authors integrate the most insightful materials in this wide-ranging field, offering students the opportunity to experience a variety of perspectives while helping them to keep sight of overarching themes. This edition adds two new chapters: "Income Distribution" and "Development and the Environment." It also now consolidates several chapters and increases the number of selections from leading professional journals. In this edition, both the selections and the authors' own overviews, notes, comments, and exhibits make greater use of empirical analysis as well as modern economic theory. In all, Leading Issues in Economic Development provides fresh and serious attention to the interplay between development experience, changing views of economists, and policy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Exceptional! This compilation covers the various topics of development with understandable yet substantive articles that are relevant and current."--Noemi Espinoza-Madrid, New School University

Praise for the previous edition

"A splendid book...it covers so many topics with such clarity and judgment. It is a real delight to use it for our course as a main text."--Amartya Sen, Harvard University and 1998 Nobel Laureate in Economics

"As always, a very impressive collection of classic and recent contributions!"--James Cobbe, Florida State University

"An excellent reference source for students of development. It is comprehensive, balanced, and provides an excellent reference text for students to follow according to their individual interests."--Chris Barrett, Utah State University

"This book has become a classic in development. I do not think you can teach the subject nowadays without at least recommending some articles out of this book to your students."--Hassan Y. Aly, Ohio State University

About the Author

Gerald M. Meier, Konosuke Matsusita Professor of International Economics and Policy Analysis, Stanford University. James E. Rauch, Professor of Economics, University of California, San Diego.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 7 edition (February 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195115899
• ISBN-13: 978-0195115895
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very useful introduction, December 11, 2000

By 

Willem Noe "scorpio-1" (Berlin) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leading Issues in Economic Development (Paperback)

I bought this book on the recommendation of a colleague who teaches development economics and uses the book himself. I am an economist by training, my background is on macroeconomics and international economic relations, and hence there was much that i recognized. One reason I wanted to learn more on development economics is that I am currently involved in work on EU Candidate Countries and economic transition issues. Although these countries are clearly not in the same category as less developed countries (although that phrase has become increasingly meaningless in itself as it covers so many very different countries), I think there could be fruitful cross-fertilization from reading a book on development economics. Certainly there would seem to be a number of issues where the candidate countries share some common ground at least, or where useful lessons could be learned from development economics (institution and capacity building and macroeconomic stabilization, for instance). The discussion on how development economics is different from other disciplines in economics (notably macro-economics) or adds value to it is of course as old as development economics itself. I found this book very useful as a broad and balanced introducion, and even though it sometimes covered familiar ground I think it often did so with a specific slant on LDCs that did add value for me, as did discussion of subjects not usually found in most economics books on social issues such as the role of women. I liked the listings of positive and negative arguments on a number of issues such as what has been achieved incpoverty reduction. I also liked the broad collection of seminal articles that you are unlikely to find elsewhere.

I found the articles and empirical research quoted not always of very recent date, and especially the latter bothered me. In several instances the texts quoted empirical findings from studies dating from the 70s or so. I do not find that very convincing; have there really been no more recent findings for the last 25 years? Also the lay-out of the text was not always very clear or attractive to the eye, and I think there is definite room for improvement there as well.

That said, this is still excellent value for money, and the book is certainly well worth to read for anybody interested in a good introduction on development economics.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good second step in development economics, March 19, 2003

By 

Denis Benchimol Minev "Amazonia" (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leading Issues in Economic Development (Paperback)

This book is a very good introduction to development economics for those who have some background in economics. The book does assume some prior knowledge of concepts and terminology, as it seeks to address many of the main contemporary issues related to development. There is a definite bias of focus on Third World developing countries rather than transitional or developed countries.

The issues addressed include the more traditional ones (such as poverty reduction, trade policy, population issues, financing issues) coupled with some newer areas of debate (such as the specific role of women in development). Most interesting I found the section on industrial and technological progress, which follows from the classical eocnomics argument that there should be no indsutrial policy. As it is a compilation of arguments, it does not go terribly in depth in any of the subjects, but offers enough references for those who wish to do so.

For the introductory student of development, this is an essential compilation. For the more advanced student, this is great reference and the bibliography is a list of important works.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent tool for any one interested in development, July 8, 2000

By 

J. Holden (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Leading Issues in Economic Development (Paperback)

Meier's book provides an excellent tool for anyone interested in Development Economics. Most, if not all, of the important development theories and issues have been covered in a clear and concise way. Amongst the contributors, many are notable economists and scholars such as: Chenery, Stiglitz, Bardhan, Nurske, Sen, Lewis, Todaro, Krueger, Ranis, Rosenstein-Rodan, Hirschman- to name but a few. This book has truly been the most useful reference tool from my first year to final year as an undergraduate reading development economics. Particularly interesting and useful chapters include: Dualistic Development(Lewis Model etc.), Debt and Aid, Population, Trade Strategy, and an awesome section on Industrialisation and Technological Progress.

A must buy for students of Development!