Gambling on Development

Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose

‘An urgent and important book.’ — Financial Times

‘A brilliant, well written and important book. Thoroughly recommended.’ — LSE Review of Books

‘This book, written by one of the greatest living development economists, is full of hard-won insights and provocative observations. Dercon’s radical modesty, fierce intelligence and deep commitment to describing what actually occurs in the field—in all its hypocrisy, comedy, tragedy, mystery and idealism—distinguishes him in a field too often defined by naive optimism and snake oil solutions.’ — Rory Stewart, former UK Secretary of State for International Development

‘A challenging, informed and insightful book. Dercon brings expertise, humility and humanity to the vital question of what makes countries poor and what can help them prosper.’ — David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee, and former UK Foreign Secretary

April 2023

9781805260080

216mm x 138mm

412pp

£16.99 Paperback Development Studies

World rights excluding the Arabic, Simplified Chinese & Turkish languages

Stefan Dercon is Professor of Economic Policy and Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford. Combining an academic career with long experience in international development policy, he is a former DFID chief economist and policy advisor to the UK Foreign Secretary.

How do countries achieve development? According to a leading economist, success arises when elites bet on growth.

August 2023

9781805260394

198mm x 129mm

384pp, 19 colour illus

£11.99 Paperback

Local History / Sport / Memoir World rights

MICHAEL CHAPLIN