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The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It Paperback – 2 Oct 2008

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Paul Collier (Author)
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Paul Collier (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 76 customer reviews
#1 Best Sellerin Developmental Studies of Human Geography
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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press (2 Oct. 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195374630
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195374636
  • Product Dimensions: 16.3 x 1.3 x 23.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 35,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

Fluent, thought-provoking book. (David Smith, The Observer)

Rarely can a book on this subject have been such a pleasurable read. (David Smith, The Observer)

Every politician should read this. (Simon Shaw, Irish Mail on Sunday.)

There are hundreds of books on development but none as well written and authoritative as Paul Collier's 'The Bottom Billion' (Edmund Conway, Daily Telegraph)

Every politician should read this. (Simon Shaw, Mail on Sunday)

This is a short book, but one which brilliantly challenges conventional views about development and aid. (Nick Rennison, Sunday Times)

This extraordinarily important book should be read by everyone who cares about Africa. (Max Hastings, Sunday Times)

A splendid book... rich in both analysis and recommendations... read this book. (Martin Wolf, Finacial Times)

It will change the way you look at the tragedy of persistent poverty in a world of plenty. (Martin Wolf, Financial Times)

Set to become a classic. His book should be compulsory reading for anyone embroiled in the thankless task of trying to pull people out of the pit of poverty. (The Economist)

An arresting, provocative book. If you care about the fate of the poorest people in the world, and want to understand what can be done to help them, read this book. If you don't care, read it anyway. (Tim Harford, author of 'The Undercover Economist')

About the Author

Paul Collier is Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University. Former Director of the Development Research group at the World Bank, he is one of the world's leading experts on African economies. Author of several books including Breaking the Conflict Trap, Collier has served as the senior adviser to Blair's Commission on Africa and his research has been featured in The Economist, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsPragmatic Approach to the Problem of Poverty
By San Patch on 13 Dec. 2007
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
As a kid growing up in Nigeria, I thought that it was 'normal' that Latin Americans, Asians and Africans were classified as The Third World. Now as an adult, it seems that the only pictures of starving children I see on TV are those from my native continent. Despite the aid and attention that Africa has received in the last 20 years, most African countries are still stuck in pre-industrial poverty. Professor Collier's highly accessible book provides some illumination on the matter.

BOTTOM-BILLION IN BRIEF
The thesis of the book is that the economies of the poorest countries in the world, the so-called bottom-billion, have not grown in the last 30 years because they are stuck in one or more of the following traps: (1) the conflict trap; (2) the natural resource trap; (3) the "landlocked with bad neighbours" trap; and (4) the "bad governance in a small country" trap. Collier proposes the following solutions to the problems: (1) Military intervention; (2) adoption of voluntary laws and charters; and 3) changing rich-world trade policy.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
The book is written in a logical, easy-to-read style. Professor Collier, former head of research at the World Bank, is remarkably familiar with African societies. He rightly points out that aid and revenue from commodities have enriched local parasitic elites, who prefer to maintain the status quo rather than invest in economic development; 'rent' money, based solely on patronage, funds the gravy train for elites. The narrative is laced with delectable anecdotes of author's travels in Africa. He recalls how he was treated as a celebrity in the Central African Republic and how, after he disclosed that he worked for the World Bank, he was shunned by the Immigration official in Nigeria.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA joy to read
By Nicholas Argyris on 2 Jan. 2008
Format: Hardcover
This is a thought-provoking book: the problems of the poorest countries are deeply and cogently analysed and explained, and appropriate policies proposed. It has the added virtue of being written in simple and refreshingly straight-forward language. There is much that is absolutely original here.

The one comment I have is that Collier bases some of his policy prescriptions on the assumption that the only way to develop is through export, which seems to suggest export-led growth and large projects. There is nothing about micro projects and the need to work with the poor to alleviate poverty through the provision of appropriate/intermediate technology.

I e-mailed him about this and received a rapid and courteous reply saying that he did not have space in the book to cover everything and that he agreed that exporting only makes sense as a growth strategy for some countries and that he has no fault to find with the micro approach.

He also suggested I might write this review; so I did.

PS I also thoroughly recommend the lecture on his website.
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4.0 out of 5 starsThought-Provoking Analysis and Solutions for a Better World
By N. J. Freedman on 28 Sept. 2007
Format: Hardcover
Despite well-publicised significant improvements in the average condition of several billion people in our world, there remain some one billion seriously poor people, and their condition is unlikely to improve. They are trapped, by conflicts, by possessing natural resources (sic), by being landlocked with bad neighbours, and/or by bad governance. Additionally, globalization is not going to help those caught in the trap. Do we have a responsibility to help? Yes, says Oxford professor of economics and African studies expert, Paul Collier, we do because we are citizens, and that status demands that we help our fellow human beings.

We are a book group of retired men, with experience in a wide range of disciplines and countries, who have read and discussed "The Bottom Billion". Without exception, we all found Collier's identification of this group of non-developing nations, and the problems they face, highly thought-provoking. We were particularly impressed by his use of researchers from different countries and disciplines, and the quantitative techniques used, to analyse the causes of those countries' problems, the impacts on them, and for identifying potential solutions. The power of these analyses was such that many of our preconceived views were changed and we were left wondering what, if anything, we could do as individuals to help the people of these countries escape from their terrible plight.

The Bottom Billion is very principled treatise that takes a close look at one of the biggest running sores in our world, and offers some solutions where many people may have said, sorrowfully, that no cure exists at all.
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2.0 out of 5 starsA Neo-liberal Apologia.
By Dr. M. S. Nkolokosa on 2 Aug. 2009
Format: Paperback
This is another effort by the neo-liberal economic establishment to distance itself from the consequences of its policies in Sub-Saharan Africa. This book is mainly about Sub-Saharan Africa.

The former head of research at the World Bank is perplexed by the failure of Sub-Saharan countries to develop. Maybe, this failure is due to the policies forced on African countries by the Western donors, the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO.

Collier tells us that Sub-Saharan countries are not developing because they have fallen into one or more of four traps. These traps are:
1. Bad governance ( read corruption );
2. Being land-locked with bad neighbours;
3. Natural resources curse, and
4. Wars and civil conflict.

Let's take corruption first. Corruption was rampant in Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Public posts used to be given to the highest bidder. The British Treasury was a private institution until the 19th century. In the USA, loyal supporters of winning parties used to be rewarded with public office. A practice that continues to this day-a complete change of personnel when a new administration takes office. None of this stopped Europe or North America becoming rich.

Next, let's look at wars and conflict. European nations were constantly at each other's throat until relatively recently. In the 1990s the Balkans were torn apart by war. In the summer of 2008 war broke out in the Caucuses.

In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the wars in Africa were mainly proxy wars brought about by the cold war. True, there have been a tiny number of inter-state wars caused by border disputes. The majority have been civil wars over resources.

Wars never stopped Europeans becoming rich.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsGreat book . Reality check 101.

Great book. Any book from SOAS uni is always worth reading imo.
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Published 1 month ago by ZigZag
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3.0 out of 5 starsA welcome addition to the subject.

Very interesting analysis. Particularly fascinating were the attempts to look beyond the stated objectives and values of those directly involved in conflict in the poorest corners... Read more

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4.0 out of 5 starsAn interesting book

Very interesting book. A good insight into globalisation. I enjoyed the way in which the author went through the problems and solutions

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5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

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