Why Nations Fail
Mentions in Episodes:
- Episode: Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power (REPLAY) | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireYou give fascinating examples in the book 'Why Nations Fail,' like there was this guy named William Lee who invented something called a stocking frame that dramatically sped up the rate at which people could knit, and one would expect this guy would get a hero's welcome. But you tell the story in the book that it was quite the opposite.
- Episode: Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power (REPLAY) | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireLiving in the United States in the 21st century, it seems normal, almost inevitable, that there's rule of law, that there are property rights, that there's democracy, but looking back over human history—and I hadn't really fully understood this till I read 'Why Nations Fail'—not only are all of these pretty rare, but the set of circumstances that led to rule of law and property rights and democracy taking hold first in England and then spreading actually seems somewhat miraculous: that at some point early on an autocrat didn't stop the whole process, derail it, and go back to this central control of all the assets.
- Episode: Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power (REPLAY) | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireIf you want more of Daron Acemoglu’s thinking, my two favorite books of his are the ones we talked about today: 'Why Nations Fail' and his most recent book, 'Power and Progress.' And next week, we are back with a brand new episode featuring Richard Reeves; his research into the struggles of boys and men is stunning, sobering, and extremely important.
- Episode: 124. Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireMy guest today, Daron Acemoglu, is a professor of Economics at MIT and co-author of a number of influential books written for a popular audience, including "Why Nations Fail" and "Power and Progress."
- Episode: 124. Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireOkay, so back in 2012, you and James Robinson published a book called "Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty."
- Episode: 124. Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireYou give fascinating examples in the book "Why Nations Fail," like there was this guy named William Lee who invented something called a stocking frame that dramatically sped up the rate at which people could knit, and one would expect this guy would get a hero's welcome, but you tell the story in the book that it was quite the opposite.
- Episode: 124. Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireThat's what triggered the "Why Nations Fail" book, which you have so kindly explained in such a masterly way, and that's also what motivated my more recent book "Power and Progress."
- Episode: 124. Daron Acemoglu on Economics, Politics, and Power | People I (Mostly) Admire
Podcast: People I (Mostly) AdmireBut looking back over human history, and I hadn't really fully understood this until I read "Why Nations Fail," not only are all of these pretty rare, but the set of circumstances that led to rule of law and property rights and democracy taking hold first in England and then spreading actually seems somewhat miraculous, that at some point early on an autocrat didn't stop the whole process dead and go back to this central control of all the assets.
- Episode: Are M.B.A.s to Blame for Wage Stagnation? | Freakonomics Radio | Episode 517
Podcast: Freakonomics RadioYou know, 'Why Nations Fail,' the book that I wrote with Jim Robinson, for example, was really what I would have loved to write as a teenager.