Chris Blattman on The Globalization Paradox

Chris Blattman pays me a huge compliment by calling me a Karl Polanyi for the 21^st century in his review of my Globalization Paradox – although I sure hope I am somewhat easier to follow than Polanyi. He is not too far off – at least in terms of what I thought I was doing in the book.

Chris also has a legitimate criticism that he is not sure whether the ideas in the book really apply to low-income countries in Africa.

His prescriptions seem to require a much more coherent state, and professional bureaucracy, and stable polity, than most nations can boast. In this third-best environment, could Asia-style industrial and growth policy cause more harm than good? I would have liked to see this explored. The arguments seem to hold more force for middle income countries — the Turkeys and Perus and South Africas of the world — than for the Ugandas and Liberias.

I do wish I had talked about this. But I am more sanguine about the relevance of the ideas to Africa. Political leaders with some coherent sense of what they want to do (e.g., Museveni of Uganda or Meles of Ethiopia) can indeed achieve a lot, even if they do not have the kind of polities or bureaucracies that richer countries do.

I see the challenges of industrial/growth policies for such countries as no different than the challenges of, say, education policy or infrastructure policy. We would never say that African countries should stop thinking about how to conduct education policy or improve their infrastructure. Instead, we worry about how to improve the quality of such policies. I don't see why industrial policies should be any different.

 

 

Comments

[www.rovingbandit.com]

What does it say that your 2 examples of African leaders are pretty autocratic?

[renl]

Nice article, great!I like it, thanks for sharing it with us. its worth reading!
TN Real Estate |
Sell House |

[Account Deleted]

Rosetta Stone On the internet gets four out of 5 for availability, and an added thumbs up cheap Rosetta Stone on the side for performing a system examine each time it loads, using a clear, Rosetta Stone version 3 easy-to-understand display that shows whether your system is prepared to run the on the internet plan or not. http://www.learn2ndlanguage.com

[PJRichens]

I've yet to read the Globalization Paradox (where is the amazon.co.uk kindle edition?) but to borrow an idea from one of your earlier books, doesn't this depend on whether you see the binding constraint as too low social returns or inadequate private appropriability of those returns. If the former, due to being landlocked, high transportation costs etc. surely it makes sense to focus on infrastructure. If the latter, then industrial policy has a role.

[Prosumerzen]

Dear Sir, Madame
Dear Dr. Rodricks

Superb !
First of all apologize me if i conctact you in this way I ,unlucky;I have not found any "contact" option.
Prosumerzen is a Blog with around 100.000 readers worldwide and we are interested on improving our content.
For that we are contacting you in order to be authorized to use ,(and logically to mention the sources), your article in a sections we are creating : Xibeidongnan ©
( in Chinese westeastnordsouth)
Blog : http://prosumerzen.wordpress.com/
Community Page : www.prosumerzen.org
Thank you very much.
Best regards
Dr, Paolo Dealberti

[Account Deleted]

There is obviously a lot to know about this. I feel you made various good points in features also.
http://www.shoemyway.com

[Account Deleted]

http://www.dog-network.com/user/blogs/view/name_clarebear/id_25245/
I do wish I had talked about this. But I am more sanguine about the relevance of the ideas to Africa.

[Mbtmbtshoes]

The Ming dynasty emperor reuse eunuch. Yongle royal spy agency established by the eunuchs, east - the emperor also enough trust in charge. ChengHua 13 years YiSiQiQiNian), and the addition of (larger west factory, from big eunuch wang straight direct control. The eunuch became spy chief vladimiro. People say, "Ming dynasty, namely, three against" refers to the factory, defend (who) and the eunuch wife. The sea early zhengde control, discusses the eunuchs liu incredibly,
http://www.coachukbags.com/

[Jamieloois]

We were in sole possession, not of the material, but of the methods and the trained intellects required for its utilization. It is this that constitutes the basis of the luxurious living of the white worker — whose income, in comparison with that of the "native" is princely — a circumstance that Marxism has turned to dishonest account, to its own ruin. It is being revenged on us today, for from now on, evolution is going to be complicated by the problem of unemployment. The high level of wages of the white worker, which is today a peril to his very life, rests upon the monopoly that the Leaders of Industry have created about him. And then, at the close of last century, the blind will-to-power began to make its decisive mistakes. discount louis vuitton Instead of keeping strictly to itself the technical knowledge that constituted their greatest asset, the "white" peoples complacently offered it to all the world... 2945abc45 0420

[Account Deleted]

Nice post.Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!
http://www.volumerates.com/

[Account Deleted]

Ray Ban

oop

[Account Deleted]

Buy an "Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows", you need the USB device that comes with it, and it works as a receiver for the controller. Without it, the controller won't work for the PC.

[Account Deleted]

litoqtan nice to know here in the philippines someone is also acutely aware of the darkside of globalization and the misaligned paradigm of its alleged virtue and positive benefits.

[Mbtmbtshoes]

http://www.coachusaonline.com/
in the last ten years, Washington announced, that Iraq war of civilization chaos, prevent the Palestine liberation process again at the same time and new hatred seeds. The comments wrote, eliminate terrorism hope should not hope that a series of military action, and should hopes the revolution in the Arab world.

[Account Deleted]

I might be able to help his thinking on economic matters.

[Account Deleted]

I buy the bulk of what Dani has to say, though I’m not sure that I believe his prescriptions will work for the poorest areas of the planet, most of all sub-Saharan Africa.

Real Estate Services

[Mbtmbtshoes]

"Golden week is important, but also a lot of shortcomings," "I suggest China put some more than the golden week holiday, the less time for the public to rest some more time." At first sight the advice,
http://www.cheapghdstraightenerssale.co.uk/

[Account Deleted]

Many places and centers offer business and trade promotions to both buyers and supplier.What about the differences in skill intensities across industries? The job losses in the relatively unskilled-labor intensive battery industry should have little effect on the relatively skilled-labor intensive machinery
sexshop
sexyshop
sexshop online
alongador peniano

[Account Deleted]

"You're tired around midday. Naps are important. christian louboutin It refreshes you. It gets you ready for competition."

[Kidneyr]

i am really pleased that i obtain the webside of the English research room this noon . Tesla Green Energy

[Kilymom]

Various careers are associated with celebrity status, predominantly within the fields of sports and entertainment that produce prominent athletes such as golfer Tiger Woods, hockey player Wayne Gretzky.

Canada Goose http://bit.ly/v5gqwi

[Aleclihong]

Other popular items were Ray-Ban sunglasses, Naj-Oleari underwear, Fiorucci and Moschino accessories, Controvento and CP Company clothing.http://bit.ly/tm83EY

[Account Deleted]

Only great minds can afford a simple style.
Moncler Jackets

[Lifenzhu]

Inventor Peter Crosthwaite was the first to conceive of a stone xylophone. Born at Dale Head, Thirlmere, in 1735, he joined the British East India Company after a brief and unhappy stint in his family's wool business.
http://bit.ly/rzsThp

[Lily Yago]

Your writing skills are really emaculate, I wish I was half as good as you.

Nike free run sale http://nikefreerunsaler.net, Nike free run 2.

[Brian Ellwood]

great article!

SELL YOUR HOUSE NASHVILLE

[Blueskyl]

Ah, la fin d'une semaine agitée est enfin arrivé! abercrombie paris l'ai verrouiller les portes sur un bureau encombré encore, mon esprit vagabonde vers les choses qui demandent mon attention ce week-end. Il me tarde de tout échapper aux voix exigeants ... échapper aux eaux du lac à travers la ville. Ce serait comme le ciel à plop moi sur le siège arrière d'un bateau, et de regarder la chute de mouettes et de plongée comme les vagues bercer me calme pour dormir. Yep, je peux presque entendre le bruit de leur éclaboussures lorsque le cliquetis de métal prévient moi sur le fait que j'ai laissé tomber mes clés.

[Mike Mike]

I absolutely feel ecstatic when I find articles relevant to my work and my subject.
http://www.cash-advance-policy.info

[D]

I really like the sytle of your blog! Thank you for sharing ! chnlove

[Yhj Delia]

It was an excellent effort made by you through your nice piece of writing, holding the quality and knowledge together for the readers. article directory

[Okadapter]

Toshiba Satellite A205 Adapter
Toshiba PA3468U-1ACA AC Adapter
HP Compaq 394224-001 AC Adapter
Acer Aspire PA-1300-04 AC Adapter
Acer SADP-65KB AC Adapter
Acer ADP-65DB AC Adapter
Acer PA-1750-04 AC Adapter
HP DC359A AC Adapter

[Okadapter]

HP Pavilion DV4 AC Adapter
hp pavilion DV5 ac adapter
hp pavilion DV6 ac adapter
hp pavilion DV7 ac adapter

[Okadapter]

Toshiba PA3282U-1ACA AC Adapter
HP Pavilion DV7 Adapter

Dell XPS M1210 Adapter
HP Compaq PPP012L-S Adapter
HP Compaq PPP009H Adapter

[Okadapter]

laptop ac adapter laptop ac adapter
Compaq Laptop AC Adapters Compaq Laptop AC Adapters
HP Laptop AC Adapters HP Laptop AC Adapters
Dell Laptop AC Adapters Dell Laptop AC Adapters

[Rastia Rigie]

Bank Mandiri Bank Terbaik di Indonesia
Bank Mandiri Bank Terbaik di Indonesia
Promo Bonus 100% Sbobet, Ibcbet dan Casino Online Dalam Rangka HUT BAVETLINE Yang Kedua
Masterbet88 Grand Opening Promo Bonus 50% Sportsbook dan Casino Online

[Jacky]

It is obvious that some countries policies are really bad, but I don’t think it could change anytime soon. We just need to make sure we keep eye the happening and work through it. I am trading with OctaFX broker which really helps me stay aware of all the happening with their daily market updates facility, it’s wonderful and benefits me greatly, so that’s why I like it so much and helps me with making profits and that too with high level of consistency.