Publisher's Synopsis
In this English translation of his classic work on economic development, Bairoch explains the origins of economic development through innovation and adaptation and how the processes of diffusion and take-off, under specific conditions, can lead to sustained growth. The historical and analytical approach adopted critically addresses five key questions: what are the mechanisms that allowed the Industrial Revolution? why hasn't the Third World imitated the example of the 19th century? what has happened in the Third World since the beginning of the 20th century? what are the obstacles to change today? and what can one do to facilitate change? This text identifies the factors that encourage or inhibit growth and why the difficulties in dealing with these factors have brought about an impasse.;It is suitable for courses in Economic History, Development Economics, History of the World Economy.
