Kicking away the ladder
Ha-Joon Chang · 2002 · 196 pages
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About this book
Kicking Away the Ladder Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective is a 2002 book by economist Ha-Joon Chang. It examines how now-developed nations achieved their prosperity through interventionist policies and argues that similar tools are often denied to developing countries today. The work challenges orthodox free-market prescriptions in international development economics. Key facts Author: Ha-Joon Chang Published: 2002 Subject: Economic development and policy history Publisher: Anthem Press Awards: 2003 Myrdal Prize (European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy) Historical argument Chang traces how countries such as Britain, the United States, and Germany industrialized through protectionism, subsidies, and state involvement. He contends that these policies were later obscured as those nations promoted free trade to others. The title metaphor—“kicking away the ladder”—refers to rich countries removing the means that once helped them climb to economic success. Critique of neoliberalism The book directly disputes the neoliberal consensus advanced by institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which often condition aid or loans on liberalization and privatization. Chang argues that these prescriptions can trap poorer nations in underdevelopment by preventing strategic state intervention. Reception and impact Kicking Away the Ladder became a foundational text in heterodox and development economics, influencing deb
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