Why Nations Fail

Why Nations Fail, shortlisted for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award 2012, seeks to explain why some nations are more prosperous than others. Acclaimed academics Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson present a compelling and well-argued theory that suggests institutions, not factors like climate, geography, or culture, determine a nation's success. Through an array of contemporary and historical examples, from Ancient Rome to present-day China, they demonstrate how sound institutions are essential for long-term economic growth. Their research, spanning fifteen years and countering the theories of authors like Max Weber and Jeffrey Sachs, blends economics, politics, history, and current events to offer a powerful and enlightening perspective on wealth and poverty.