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Relative economic backwardness and catching up: lessons from history, implications for development thinking

Andersson, Martin LU and Axelsson, Tobias LU (2016)
Abstract
This chapter expands on three main topics. First, it is argued that the economic historical perspective may contribute to our understanding of present day development processes. Instead of advocating a one-size-fits-all model, an analytical framework is offered based on common traits from diverse examples. Second, the importance of agricultural change on the road towards sustained economic growth is discussed and argued that it is a vital part of the development process. In the final section of the chapter the question is put whether in some countries perhaps the relative backwardness is too great an obstacle to permit catching up. The conclusion is that it is not too late but that the possibilities for countries today to fully take... (More)
This chapter expands on three main topics. First, it is argued that the economic historical perspective may contribute to our understanding of present day development processes. Instead of advocating a one-size-fits-all model, an analytical framework is offered based on common traits from diverse examples. Second, the importance of agricultural change on the road towards sustained economic growth is discussed and argued that it is a vital part of the development process. In the final section of the chapter the question is put whether in some countries perhaps the relative backwardness is too great an obstacle to permit catching up. The conclusion is that it is not too late but that the possibilities for countries today to fully take advantage of being late hinges on their ability to couple economic growth with structural transformation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
catching up, economic history, development economics, structural transformation, Asia, Africa, Latin-America, social capabilities, diversity in development
host publication
Diverse Development Paths and Structural Transformation in the Escape from Poverty
editor
Andersson, Martin and Axelsson, Tobias
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISBN
9780198737407
DOI
10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198737407.003.0011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
94808f1e-b59c-47af-9142-250a855d54e0 (old id 8370599)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 12:16:20
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:09:59
@inbook{94808f1e-b59c-47af-9142-250a855d54e0,
  abstract     = {{This chapter expands on three main topics. First, it is argued that the economic historical perspective may contribute to our understanding of present day development processes. Instead of advocating a one-size-fits-all model, an analytical framework is offered based on common traits from diverse examples. Second, the importance of agricultural change on the road towards sustained economic growth is discussed and argued that it is a vital part of the development process. In the final section of the chapter the question is put whether in some countries perhaps the relative backwardness is too great an obstacle to permit catching up. The conclusion is that it is not too late but that the possibilities for countries today to fully take advantage of being late hinges on their ability to couple economic growth with structural transformation.}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Martin and Axelsson, Tobias}},
  booktitle    = {{Diverse Development Paths and Structural Transformation in the Escape from Poverty}},
  editor       = {{Andersson, Martin and Axelsson, Tobias}},
  isbn         = {{9780198737407}},
  keywords     = {{catching up; economic history; development economics; structural transformation; Asia; Africa; Latin-America; social capabilities; diversity in development}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{Relative economic backwardness and catching up: lessons from history, implications for development thinking}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198737407.003.0011}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198737407.003.0011}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}