Prosperity, he argues, "is not determined by fate, or by religion, or geology. What does Beattie, former Bank of England economist turned world trade editor at the Financial Times, bring to the shouting match? For one thing, a pleasing modesty. Over the past few years, there have been competing explanations ranging from geography to culture to natural resources as either a boon or a curse. Why some countries thrive and others fail is the biggest question in economics. His subject is how poor countries can make themselves richer, an area where authors can exert surprising influence on policy: aid secretary Douglas Alexander often quotes development economist Paul Collier and his book The Bottom Billion. Yes, it's dressed up like a piece of pop social science - complete with the everything-you-know-is-wrong title and talking-point chapterheads such as "Why doesn't Africa grow cocaine?" - but Alan Beattie's intention is far more serious.
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