How the West Grew Rich: Economic Transformation of the Industrial World

The authors of this book argue that the West's economic success can be attributed to the break-up of centralized political and religious controls, which allowed small enterprises to make their own choices and innovate. They challenge many assumptions about the sources of Western economic strength and suggest that the issue of the West's lead over the rest of the world is still relevant today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 24 December 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The West, Europe, and later North America, managed to break free from the cycle of hunger and hardship into sustained economic growth and prosperity. This transformation was a result of various factors, including industrialization, which first took place in the West. In this comprehensive book, Nathan Rosenberg and L. E. Birdzell, Jr. reexamine the course of Western history from the Middle Ages to the present. They argue that the break-up of centralized political and religious controls played a crucial role in the West's unparalleled wealth and prosperity. This shift allowed small enterprises to make their own choices regarding innovation, whether in the technical or organizational field, or in the extension of trade.

The key themes explored in this exciting reinterpretation are the complex reciprocal relationship between science, technology, and the market place, as well as autonomy, experimentation, and diversity. The authors' conclusions challenge many assumptions about the sources of Western economic strength, including recent theories that attribute mass production and the modern corporation to instrumental roles. The issue of the West's lead over the rest of the world remains as relevant today as it has ever been. This book makes a significant contribution to the ongoing debate on the factors that have contributed to the West's economic success.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350186729