The Origins of Development Economics : How Schools of Economic Thought Have Addressed Development

Historically much economic thought, especially until the 1960s, has been pre-occupied with development economics.

This history of economic thought highlights the enduring developmental concerns of earlier economic discourses.

It illustrates how various schools of economic thought over the years have pointed to the role of the state in leading and co-ordinating economic transformation and progress.

In the second half of the 20th century, narrow abstract approaches displaced historically informed discourses, marginalizing greater appreciation of history and the social sciences.

The contributors cover mercantilism as associated with Italian city states and in the later German economic tradition; the history of debate over capitalist transformation; and the impact of modern growth theory and international trade on pioneering development economists.