Table of Contents

Preface   

1 Why, When, and How Did the World Become Rich?

2 Did Some Societies Win the Geography Lottery?

3 Is it all Just Institutions?

4 Did Culture Make Some Rich and Others Poor?

5 Fewer Babies?

6 Was it Just a Matter of Colonization and Exploitation?

7 Why Did Northwestern Europe Become Rich First?

8 Britain’s Industrial Revolution

9 The Rise of the Modern Economy

10 Industrialization and the World it Created

11 The World is Rich

Bibliography

About the Author

Mark Koyama is Associate Professor of Economics at George Mason University.
Jared Rubin is Professor of Economics at Chapman University.

Reviews

"A vivid and crystal-clear summary of the very large body of research compiled in the past two decades on the most important question in economic history. Well informed, solidly anchored in historical facts and economic analysis, this book is a must for economics students."
—Joel Mokyr, Northwestern University "In our current moment, when many are worried about the future of growth for the environment and the planet, this thought-provoking book by two leading scholars tells the story of how and why economic growth took off, and how it hugely raised living standards, but also increased inequality and misery on the way. This is a must-read for anybody worried about the future of growth and poverty on our planet."
—Daron Acemoglu, MIT "[T]imely, consolidated, and refreshingly succinct.... It is likely to be a seminal text for years to come."
—The Economic History Review