 Cover of first U.S. edition | |
| Author | David S. Landes |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Economic history |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
Publication date | 1998 |
| Publication place | United States |
| ISBN | 9780316908672 |
| OCLC | 1158368656 |
The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some are So Rich and Some So Poor is a 1998 book by historian and economist David Landes (1924–2013). He attempted to explain why some countries and regions experienced near miraculous periods of explosive growth while the rest of the world stagnated. The book compared the long-term economic histories of different regions, specifically Europe, United States, Japan, China, the Arab world, and Latin America. In addition to analyzing economic and cliometric figures, he credited intangible assets, such as culture and enterprise, to explain economic success or failure.
Landes was Emeritus Professor of Economics and Coolidge Professor of History at Harvard University.