Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
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- Create Date：2021-03-28 13:18:41
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Daron Acemoğlu
- ISBN：1846684307
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Summary
Shortlisted for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award 2012。 Why are some nations more prosperous than others？ Why Nations Fail sets out to answer this question， with a compelling and elegantly argued new theory: that it is not down to climate， geography or culture， but because of institutions。 Drawing on an extraordinary range of contemporary and historical examples， from ancient Rome through the Tudors to modern-day China， leading academics Daron Acemoglu and James A。 Robinson show that to invest and prosper， people need to know that if they work hard， they can make money and actually keep it - and this means sound institutions that allow virtuous circles of innovation， expansion and peace。 Based on fifteen years of research， and answering the competing arguments of authors ranging from Max Weber to Jeffrey Sachs and Jared Diamond， Acemoglu and Robinson step boldly into the territory of Francis Fukuyama and Ian Morris。 They blend economics， politics， history and current affairs to provide a new， powerful and persuasive way of understanding wealth and poverty。
Reviews
Gordon
，
Very well researched， but also very redundant and narrowly argued。
Richard FitzGerald
，
It's a good book。I liked that it was mostly about history， so that now it's WP years old are so it doesn't feel like it's no up to dateIt does used the same language for the 'theory' but this is useful so that other reasons aren't given and it becomes inconsistent I liked all the references to colonies， and the explanation of modern democracy theory。 I loved the history about the printing press and the Ottoman Empire As I'm particularly interested in the Middle East this region wasn't covered en It's a good book。I liked that it was mostly about history， so that now it's WP years old are so it doesn't feel like it's no up to dateIt does used the same language for the 'theory' but this is useful so that other reasons aren't given and it becomes inconsistent I liked all the references to colonies， and the explanation of modern democracy theory。 I loved the history about the printing press and the Ottoman Empire As I'm particularly interested in the Middle East this region wasn't covered enough， about from briefly on Egypt 。。。more
Shavonne Knight
，
Good information but very dry。 I couldn't get through it。 It was like reading a boring history book。 Good information but very dry。 I couldn't get through it。 It was like reading a boring history book。 。。。more
Andy C
，
The economy of the planet relies on this knowledge！Eye-opening behind belief！It's one of those repeating moments of "how did or could that possibly happen！" And， then you follow the path that began the dwindling spiral for many nations and think "hmm， there it is"。 Without stating what the book is about and reviewing it's contents， simply put， if those in a position to do good in society would read this and pass on it's message， the economy on this planet would significantly change for the bette The economy of the planet relies on this knowledge！Eye-opening behind belief！It's one of those repeating moments of "how did or could that possibly happen！" And， then you follow the path that began the dwindling spiral for many nations and think "hmm， there it is"。 Without stating what the book is about and reviewing it's contents， simply put， if those in a position to do good in society would read this and pass on it's message， the economy on this planet would significantly change for the better。 。。。more
Serkan Baybuğa
，
Çok güzel kitap。 Neden bu halde olduğuzu anlatmış :）Herkes mutlaka okumalı
Yuri Huanca
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Libro interesante con una lista interminable de ejemplos， explicando ascensos y caídas de pueblos y países en distintos periodos de la historia。 La tesis es que los países fracasan por la calidad de sus instituciones。 Si son extractivas， probablemente la tentación es mantener el modelo y perpetuarse en el poder para obtener beneficios de la riqueza de los recursos。 Esto no genera bienestar en el largo plazo。 Se requiere instituciones inclusivas， que se atrevan a los cambios de paradigmas disrupt Libro interesante con una lista interminable de ejemplos， explicando ascensos y caídas de pueblos y países en distintos periodos de la historia。 La tesis es que los países fracasan por la calidad de sus instituciones。 Si son extractivas， probablemente la tentación es mantener el modelo y perpetuarse en el poder para obtener beneficios de la riqueza de los recursos。 Esto no genera bienestar en el largo plazo。 Se requiere instituciones inclusivas， que se atrevan a los cambios de paradigmas disruptivos y que el poder efectivamente sea más equilibrado。Sorpenden los ejemplos paradigmaticos de resistencia a los cambios de la modernidad （por ejemplo reyes que se opusieron a la imprenta porque lo consideraban muy peligroso， o reyes que ejecutaron a inventores por el riesgo de los efectos revolucionarios de sus creaciones）En fin， se requiere mejor política， mejores instituciones， visión de conjunto y no de anclarse al poder。。。Libro a ratos tedioso， aunque muy bien documentado。 。。。more
Tigran Atayan
，
Eye opening and a must read for citizens of underdeveloped countries
Diana
，
Для общего развития книга интересная и стоящая。 Интересно прослеживать линию исторического развития разных стран。 Полезные термины и понятия。 Но， главный тезис книги， по сути， был понятен из первых 2-3 глав， и тянутся от первой страницы до последней。 Плюс， да， исторические факты интересны， но когда в меру。Я бы посоветовала прочитать， но， правда， нудновато и интерес очень скоро пропадает， поэтому ставлю 3 звезды。
Andrew Clark
，
Why Books FailWhy Nations Fail is an educational book about the causation and correlation of nations and economies failing。 It is written by 2 professors and is very informational， that being said， It is life draining。 Now that I have read half of it， I know why the geographical and cultural theories are not plausible， but I do not know how to stay awake for a whole chapter。 For one to enjoy this book and not be bored， they would have to be 100% interested in the topic。 I am semi-interested in t Why Books FailWhy Nations Fail is an educational book about the causation and correlation of nations and economies failing。 It is written by 2 professors and is very informational， that being said， It is life draining。 Now that I have read half of it， I know why the geographical and cultural theories are not plausible， but I do not know how to stay awake for a whole chapter。 For one to enjoy this book and not be bored， they would have to be 100% interested in the topic。 I am semi-interested in the success and failures of nations and why， but apparently not interested enough to keep my eyes open。 While what I am saying about this book is pretty harsh， I do recommend this book to people who are interested in economics， history， and the history of economics。 It is very informative and some of the book was interesting to me， but not enough to redeem the rest。 I would recommend the book to dedicated enthusiasts， but casual people like myself can read this book if they so choose， but it might take what seems like years。 Overall， this book is not extremely exciting and seemed to drag on for centuries， there are some tolerable parts， but not enough to save this book from failure itself。 Maybe in the authors next research book， they can find out why books fail， using their own book as an example。 。。。more
Kristian Strauss
，
A interesting peace in geopolitics explaining the corruption of exclusive cultures。
Orlin Andreev
，
The book provides a good theory about factors contibuting to the impoverishment of a country。 It is written in a clear manner。 All of the claims in the book are supported with ample evidence from the history of difrerent nations。 If you are jus a casual reader when it comes to politics and economics， skimming through each chapter and focusing on the summary part would suffice for you to get the gist of why some nations are moving forward in terms of economic development and why others are not。
Saied
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This is an enlightening book， but I wish the book offered some schematic models and figures for its proposed theory。 Also， I think I have some contradictive examples that the theory can't explain; consider the following example:A= a group of people living on a land with many rights （Owners）B= a group of slaves imported to that land for work under hard conditions （Slaves）C= the group of domesticated animals in the land serving humans （Animals）If you define the nation as A+B， the book says that th This is an enlightening book， but I wish the book offered some schematic models and figures for its proposed theory。 Also， I think I have some contradictive examples that the theory can't explain; consider the following example:A= a group of people living on a land with many rights （Owners）B= a group of slaves imported to that land for work under hard conditions （Slaves）C= the group of domesticated animals in the land serving humans （Animals）If you define the nation as A+B， the book says that the nation is doomed to fail。 However， if you consider it as only A， then everything is OK。You may ask that how can you exclude B from society， while they are humans living on that land？ I would say the same way we always exclude group C from our national equations。 Generally， humans treat animals awfully， and they behave similarly to many other humans。 I cannot explain very clearly， but something is wrong with the theory that doesn't make sense in many cases。 。。。more
Rachael
，
I found it， at times really interesting but then other times quite boring and going so far back that it wasn't of interest to me but then it would have a really fascinating section that would make the bit I found boring more interesting。 I found it， at times really interesting but then other times quite boring and going so far back that it wasn't of interest to me but then it would have a really fascinating section that would make the bit I found boring more interesting。 。。。more
Jacob Granqvist
，
Quite an astonishing book。 The historical perspective combined with the detailed institutional analysis gives a very good understanding of the development of prosperity。 Even though I am not quite convinced of their almost wholehearted support for institutions as the sole basis for societal success， the book conveys many interesting views on the importance of institutions。 It also aspires to analyse some contemporary problems as the “aid trap” of developing countries - something I would have lik Quite an astonishing book。 The historical perspective combined with the detailed institutional analysis gives a very good understanding of the development of prosperity。 Even though I am not quite convinced of their almost wholehearted support for institutions as the sole basis for societal success， the book conveys many interesting views on the importance of institutions。 It also aspires to analyse some contemporary problems as the “aid trap” of developing countries - something I would have liked to read more about。 I would recommend this book， both as a means to understand Acemoglu’s claim that the institutions are the basis upon which prosperity arises， and also as a very nicely written history of institutional development in the world。 The part about the rise of inclusive institutions in Britain is especially well written。 。。。more
Thanyanuch Tantikul
，
หยิบเล่มนี้มาอ่านใหม่ （อ่านครั้งแรกหลายปีแล้ว） และยังรู้สึกว่าบทสรุปของหนังสือยังคงใช้ได้ โดยเฉพาะในห้วงยามนี้ ทฤษฎีที่หนังสือเสนอคือ ความเจริญรุ่งเรืองและความสำเร็จของประเทศ มาจากสองปัจจัยหลักๆ คือการมีสถาบันเศรษฐกิจที่เปิดกว้าง ไม่ขูดรีด ไม่ผูกขาด เอื้อให้เกิดการทำลายเชิงสร้างสรรค์ อันนำมาสู่นวัตกรรมและการพัฒนา แต่สิ่งนี้จะเกิดได้ก็ต่อเมื่อมีสถาบันการเมืองที่เปิดกว้าง รวมศูนย์และเป็นพหุนิยมคืออำนาจกระจายในวงกว้าง ไม่มีใครใช้อำนาจได้โดยไร้ข้อจำกัด เมื่อสังคมและอำนาจเป็นพหุนิยม หลักนิติรัฐ นิติธ หยิบเล่มนี้มาอ่านใหม่ （อ่านครั้งแรกหลายปีแล้ว） และยังรู้สึกว่าบทสรุปของหนังสือยังคงใช้ได้ โดยเฉพาะในห้วงยามนี้ ทฤษฎีที่หนังสือเสนอคือ ความเจริญรุ่งเรืองและความสำเร็จของประเทศ มาจากสองปัจจัยหลักๆ คือการมีสถาบันเศรษฐกิจที่เปิดกว้าง ไม่ขูดรีด ไม่ผูกขาด เอื้อให้เกิดการทำลายเชิงสร้างสรรค์ อันนำมาสู่นวัตกรรมและการพัฒนา แต่สิ่งนี้จะเกิดได้ก็ต่อเมื่อมีสถาบันการเมืองที่เปิดกว้าง รวมศูนย์และเป็นพหุนิยมคืออำนาจกระจายในวงกว้าง ไม่มีใครใช้อำนาจได้โดยไร้ข้อจำกัด เมื่อสังคมและอำนาจเป็นพหุนิยม หลักนิติรัฐ นิติธรรม จึงต้องมาคู่กันอย่างเลี่ยงไม่ได้ สองสิ่งนี้จะเกื้อหนุนกัน ทำให้สังคมเจริญก้าวหน้าไปได้รวดเร็ว แต่สังคมใดที่ขาดสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่งไป สังคมนั้นถ้าไม่ล้มเหลวโดยสิ้นเชิง （อย่างสังคมที่ปราศจากการรวมศูนย์） ก็จะเจริญเติบโตได้แค่ระดับหนึ่ง และจะไม่ยั่งยืน （เช่นสังคมที่เศรษฐกิจเปิดกว้างระดับหนึ่ง ภายใต้การควบคุมของสถาบันการเมืองที่ชนชั้นนำกลุ่มเล็กๆ มีอำนาจไม่จำกัด） เพราะสังคมแบบนี้ชนชั้นสูงจะปิดกั้นการทำลายเชิงสร้างสรรค์ ที่อาจนำมาสู่การบั่นทอนอำนาจของตัวเอง หนังสือยังบอกอีกว่า ชะตากรรมของแต่ละสังคมนั้นไม่แน่นอน และอาจเปลี่ยนจาก วงจรอุบาทว์ （ที่นำไปสู่สถาบันที่ขูดรีดทั้งหลาย） ไปสู่ วงจรสวรรค์ （ที่ทำให้สถาบันเปิดกว้าง） ได้ และในทางกลับกันก็เช่นกัน ขึ้นกับว่าเมื่อมีรอยต่อสำคัญประวัติศาสตร์ สถาบันในสังคมนั้นๆ จะมีปฏิกิริยาต่อเหตุการณ์ในช่วงรอยต่ออย่างไร ซึ่งหลายครั้งเป็นเรื่องที่กลุ่มต่างๆ ในสังคมต้องต่อสู้เพื่อฉวยจังหวะให้เกิดความเปลี่ยนแปลงในช่วงรอยต่อนั้น และความสำเร็จเล็กๆ ก็อาจพลิกเส้นทางของสังคมนั้นไปได้มหาศาลในอนาคต ข้อเสนอนี้มาพร้อมกับตัวอย่างหลากหลายจากทั่วโลก และครอบคลุมช่วงเวลายาวนานในประวัติศาสตร์ อ่านแล้วเบื้องต้นเกิดความหนักใจ เพราะผู้เขียนเตือนไว้ว่า สังคมส่วนใหญ่มีวงจรอุบาทว์ซึ่งทนทายาด แต่ก็มีความหวัง และแรงบันดาลใจอยู่ว่า มีหลายสังคมที่พลิกจากวงจรอุบาทว์มาสู่วงจรสวรรค์ได้ และที่สำคัญ หนังสือเล่มนี้เสนอทฤษฎีรองรับที่หนักแน่นว่า เพราะอะไรประชาธิปไตยที่กระจายอำนาจให้ผู้คนอย่างเป็นธรรม และหลักนิติรัฐ นิติธรรม จึงจำเป็นต่อความอยู่ดีกินดีของทุกคน ไม่ใช่แค่วาทกรรมหรูๆ เท่านั้น 。。。more
David Mclaughlin
，
Excellent read for anyone interested in understanding why certain countries and parts of the world have seen persistent poverty and failed governmental structures。 In an expansive study through multiple historical periods and geographies the authors theory centers on the notion of extractive vs inclusive economic and political institutions。 Their thesis is that the one consistent condition that explains why certain countries have underperformed economically and often have weak or poor governance Excellent read for anyone interested in understanding why certain countries and parts of the world have seen persistent poverty and failed governmental structures。 In an expansive study through multiple historical periods and geographies the authors theory centers on the notion of extractive vs inclusive economic and political institutions。 Their thesis is that the one consistent condition that explains why certain countries have underperformed economically and often have weak or poor governance is due to extractive economic and political institutions。 The relationship between extractive economic and political institutions is both symbiotic and self-reinforcing; hence why they tend to persist and persevere。 Conversely the countries and geographies that have seen high standards of living and economic growth have inclusive economic and political institutions。 This plays out over critical junctures in history such as the Black Death， the Atlantic Trade， the Industrial revolution， etc。。。where certain countries adopted or grew inclusive institutions or extractive institutions。 Would highly recommend for anyone interested in history， politics， and international relations。 。。。more
Murat
，
The best review about this book was written in this book: History repeats itself， first as tragedy， second as farce。 （by Marx）。 “why nations fail” unfortunately repeats itself for many times。
Nikolay Sarkisov
，
gave it five stars because it just checks all the boxes for me- it has history， amateur level economics， and some psychology。 I really enjoyed it and got new perspective on politics
Farida Nael
，
Read it twice， even purchase the sequel。 The book reads like fiction， interesting and useful in understanding certain models of state。
Colin
，
Generally speaking， this book provides some very interesting insights。 Now going forward with this review， I should admit that I’ve only read about half and then gave up because it’s SO repetitive。 Before you scoff at this， I’m not the only that’s done this。 Pretty much the first 3 chapter contain all the necessary thesis and moderate amounts of evidence support it。 After that， the rest of the book is basically evidence and reasoning。 Typically if a book were this repetitive I would give it a lo Generally speaking， this book provides some very interesting insights。 Now going forward with this review， I should admit that I’ve only read about half and then gave up because it’s SO repetitive。 Before you scoff at this， I’m not the only that’s done this。 Pretty much the first 3 chapter contain all the necessary thesis and moderate amounts of evidence support it。 After that， the rest of the book is basically evidence and reasoning。 Typically if a book were this repetitive I would give it a lower rating， but since the thesis of it was so interesting and the reasoning was logically sound I’m inclined to give it a light 4 star review。 If you’re really into the academic side of comparative politics you might benefit from reading the full thing， but for me 300 or so pages was enough to move on。 。。。more
Luis Hernan Lira
，
Muy buen análisis de porque fallarían los paísesLibro muy claro en dar diagnóstico de porque los países son pobres。Me gustaría un volumen 2 con teorías para hacer países exitosos。
Nuno Calejo
，
Very interesting approach to the question of what defines a nation's success， explained through a lot of good and detailed examples。 The main idea seems very accurate and is supported with well thought arguments。 Nevertheless the book lacks some organisation and sometimes it is too repetitive regarding some point it is trying to make。 This in turn makes it sometimes hard to follow the rationale and bigger picture。 Very interesting approach to the question of what defines a nation's success， explained through a lot of good and detailed examples。 The main idea seems very accurate and is supported with well thought arguments。 Nevertheless the book lacks some organisation and sometimes it is too repetitive regarding some point it is trying to make。 This in turn makes it sometimes hard to follow the rationale and bigger picture。 。。。more
Jessica
，
Some good ideas in the book， but even the author himself （he joined my classes Q&A time vía Zoom） agreed that there is no practical way to apply the ideas irl。 So while the book has nice ideas about what makes a nation rise or fail， it’s not really worth your time because it’s not practical。
Ibrahim Al-Ghraibawi
，
Firstly it is a very hard book to read and I had to force myself to pick it up at times to finish it。 Several points were made that are good and have some relevance to the key idea however they were constantly been repeated and could have been summarized in a chapter or two。 The author negates history and tries to shift the blame for the past 100 years on the people of today in South American， Africa and middle east。 The author does not talk about the impacts colonialism has had to this day and Firstly it is a very hard book to read and I had to force myself to pick it up at times to finish it。 Several points were made that are good and have some relevance to the key idea however they were constantly been repeated and could have been summarized in a chapter or two。 The author negates history and tries to shift the blame for the past 100 years on the people of today in South American， Africa and middle east。 The author does not talk about the impacts colonialism has had to this day and the fact that endless wars in the regions have stopped it from developing。 It goes round and round in circles and should have been better written。 。。。more
Philippe Bogdanoff
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Давно собирался прочитать эту книгу， вот все как-то руки и глаза не доходили。Теория выдвинутая авторами， несомненно интересна Что я подчерпнул:Институты меняются редко и медленно。Политика - это процесс， в ходе которого будет определяться кто будет управлять странойс точки зрения тех， кто контролирует власть нет никакой необходимости вводить новые или менять старые институтыЭкстрактивные институты -Ничего не предопределено， разные страны приходят
Mumtaz Noori
，
A book with quite enthralling marks of history as to why some nations today are floundering with destitute and others prosper。 A book that guides today's policymakers of not repeating the mistakes of yesterday's。 Quite impressive work， and my favorite read of the year 2021。 A book with quite enthralling marks of history as to why some nations today are floundering with destitute and others prosper。 A book that guides today's policymakers of not repeating the mistakes of yesterday's。 Quite impressive work， and my favorite read of the year 2021。 。。。more
Justin Farquhar
，
A clear and compelling argument。 The case is made with this formula。 Political Inclusion， rule of law， an independent judiciary， and strong property rights are all ingredients for economic prosperity。 Clear， interesting， and informative。 Written in everyday language that is easy to understand。 5 stars
Suleiman Arabiat
，
Why Nations Fail should've been a long essay published online， it is clear that the author and their publishers thought they can make more money this way。The book's proposition is simple: good institutions = successful nations， bad institutions = failed nations。 A simplified argument for the conclusions that he makes， since by the author's definition success and failure are simply the economic advancement of any said nations， an oversimplified definition at best。The author then goes on and on in Why Nations Fail should've been a long essay published online， it is clear that the author and their publishers thought they can make more money this way。The book's proposition is simple: good institutions = successful nations， bad institutions = failed nations。 A simplified argument for the conclusions that he makes， since by the author's definition success and failure are simply the economic advancement of any said nations， an oversimplified definition at best。The author then goes on and on in every chapter cherry-picking historical events and telling stories that support his argument， occasionally trying to frame the stories within their contexts， but only when it serves the conclusion。While I agree with some of the premises and arguments， and yes， institutions are at the core of successful nation-building， regardless of what defines a nation in the first place （the author completely disregarded discussing this）， I found this book to be unduly long， and uninformative。 Only one definition stands out: extractive institutions， a useful term for describing the institutions that lead to failure。Don't waste your time reading this， just read some of the long reviews that summarize it and you'll get the same amount of knowledge。 。。。more
Ana
，
En general bastante interesante， pero hay partes que se hacen muy tediosas y repetitivas。
Suprin Talpur
，