Lal takes his readers on a breathtaking gallop through economic and religious history, to discover both the material and the cosmological determinants of economic progress. He enthralls with the breadth and comprehensiveness of his effort to explain the miracle of emergent economic growth in 18th century Europe, taking its origins back to papal decisions in the 7th century. Imitation is easier that modernizing without westernizing. A stimulating and provocative analysis.
Richard N. Cooper, Boas Professor of Economics, Harvard University
A provocative book that is dusturbing in its implication for stability in the West. Individualism has wrought economic wonder, but without the constraints of religion, moral degeneracy proceeds apace. The cultures of the East, which embody shame as a critical control on behavior may offer more promise. Lal deserves commendation for producing a work that is both cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary, no small feat.
James M. Buchanan, Advisory General Director, Center for Study of Public Choice, George Mason University, and Noble Laureate in Economic Sciences, 1986
This is a very important and thought-provoking book. The belief in a 'cultural' basis for development has been with us for a long time. Economists have tended to debunk them, pointing to the ability of very diverse societies to achieve rapid development. Those believing in the importance of culture have therefore tended to reject the understanding that economists do bring to development. Deepak Lal has made a major contribution to bridging the gap between these groups and to synthesizing the roles of cultures and markets in economic growth. The book is a fascinating read, covering as it does the evolution of the major civilizations and the reasons why all but the West were unable to achieve development until recent years.
Anne O. Krueger, Herald L. and Caroline L. Ritch Professor of Science and Humanities, Department of Economics, Stanford University; Director, Stanford Center for Research in Economic Development and Policy Reform; and Senior Fellow, the Hoover Institution
