About this title: Economist Jeffrey Sachs brings a lifetime of scholarship and experience to the complex problem of the wealth and poverty of nations. He reviews two centuries of history, explaining the reasons behind the uneven dispersal of wealth, and provides a holistic way to assess a nation's resources. Sachs is no ivory-tower thinker; he has been to the ...
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Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Press
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9781594200458ISBN:1594200459
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Hardcover Edition-Average Wear-Few Markings. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 416 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Very good. Some underlining-minor staining to page edge-otherwise dust jacket and cover fine-binding strong contents clean-enjoy. read more
Description: Good. 2006-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Description: Very good. Book has appearance of light use with no easily noticeable wear. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Fine. 0143036580 **Softcover**--Exact ISBN Match--Cover has almost no shelf wear. No personalizations, writing or marks in the text. Clean, Tight and Neat. Absolutely no spine creasing. Ships Quickly-IN STOCK-Satisfaction Guaranteed! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Press
Date Published: 2005-12-30
ISBN-13:9781594200458ISBN:1594200459
Description: Good. HARDCOVER. Good Condition. Binding tight, pages secure. Some highlighting. No Dust Jacket. College store stickers on spine and back cover. Light blunting to head and tail of spine, and to corners. Reading copy. read more
Description: Very Good. 0143036580 Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light discoloration due to aging and other light wear. read more
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, E Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780143036586ISBN:0143036580
Description: Good. First printing. Marker stripe bottom edge. read more
"When I first read this book, I jumped on the Jeff Sachs train pretty enthusiastically. At that point, I probably would have rated this book with 5 stars. Now, after spending more time reading about development economics, this work seems less impressive. If you share the view that the only thing that will save poor countries are massive infusions of foreign aid, you will find much to agree with in this book. However, many of the author's conclusions are not based on sound logic. In addition, the notion that all developing country governments are prepared to handle cash injections on the scale of those discussed in this book is a bit delusional. For a good counterpoint to this book, I recommend William Easterly's "The White Man's Burden"."
"Micro-loans; group lending; GRAMINE; disease control, meds - Why should the poor of the world - those who exist on 50 cents a day (that's $130 per YEAR) be left in poverty. Isn't there something we can do? Jobs for women and an increase in literacy dramatically reduce infant mortality - and reduce the number of children born thereby stabilizing population. Overall, it is in everyones interest that people in poor countries are educated and work. Sachs points out that Reagan and Thatcher opined that poor countries were poor because of their own actions - it was their fault. Sachs disputes this and lists the issues that must be understood so we can define why one area is poor and another rich. The book also provides insight behind the news - which politicians are sincere, which are, well, flawed. The book is about economics but it is hardly dull! It's fascinating! And should be read along with 'Banker to the Poor' by Muhammed Yunus. Or you can ignore this book and say, like Reagan, it's their fault."
"One-sixth of the world lives like we do...first world people. Two-thirds live in varying states of second world countries with varying states of health care and food supply, but for the most part they are at least getting by.
Then there is the bottom one-sixth of the population, the part that lives in extreme poverty and third world countries. They live in constant fear of developing horrible diseases...diseases that can kill them in a matter of days or weeks...diseases and conditions like mumps, measles, malaria, small pox, cholera, dissentery, hunger, freakin' diarrhea for christ's sake! They die from these things that we don't give a second thought to because they have zero access to health care and they don't know where next week's or even the next day's food is going to come from.
Sachs claims that we can end extreme poverty, completely wipe curable diseases from the earth, and give these countries a leg up to the first rung of that economic ladder that we have climbed so high. Shouldn't we do that? "As you do unto the least of these my brethren..."
The first half of this book was excellent. It gave a kind of economic history of the world and put forth many examples of what led to the situations we find ourselves in today. It gave encouraging examples of countries that are getting onto that economic ladder and how it is changing the lives of the people there...luckily lots of women in particular.
A little past halfway though I seem to remember getting a little lost in economist speak, but well worth the read."
"As part of today's world, let's think about the 2 billion people who live in abject poverty, and what the rest of us - those living in "donor countries" can do to help. Sachs explains why the poorest nations have been unable to improve the lives of their citizens. It's not laziness. It's not corruption. In fact, Sachs makes some insightful comments about national corruption and the correlation to wealth and poverty. It may even change the way you think about corruption.
This is one of the few books since college that I have underlined. And I will reread. Although, I've also read his next book on poverty, Common Wealth, and it would be hard to tell you which one to choose.
Whichever book you select, spend some time contemplating why a billion people live on less than $300 a year. And why making $600 a year is a world of difference."
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