Beyond the World Bank Agenda
An Institutional Approach to Development
- Contents
- Review Quotes

List of Illustrations
List of Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I. Reflections on the History of the World Bank Agenda
1. The Ascendancy of Economics in the World Bank, 1944–1979: From Infrastructure to Structural Adjustment
2. From Structural Adjustment to “Poverty Reduction”: Adjustment to the Crisis and the Crisis of Adjustment after 1980
Part II. Economic Theory and the World Bank Agenda: A Critical Evaluation
3. Economic Theory and Orthodox Reform: Critical Reflections on Structural Adjustment
4. Institutions and the “Missing Link” in the World Bank’s Strategy: Toward a Critique
Part III. Beyond the World Bank Agenda: An Institutional Approach to Development
5. Building on Lost Foundations: The Institutional Matrix and Socioeconomic Development
6. State Formation as an Institutional Phenomenon
7. An Institutional Approach to Financial Development
8. Transcending Neoliberal Health Policies
9. Conclusion: Beyond the World Bank Agenda
Notes
Bibliography
“Every year books, about the World Bank are published. Few make an impact beyond the moment, if at all. This book does more than make an impact: it sets the standard. Its power lies in 1) its historical analysis to place World Bank practice in context, and 2) a sophisticated yet accessible treatment of the economic analysis underlying World Bank practice, and 3) why that economic analysis is fatally flawed. And, most importantly, it indicates the way forward.”
“Beyond the World Bank Agenda will certainly make an important and novel contribution to the literature. Howard Stein puts forward an institutional approach to development, very different and more akin to the real world than the prevailing view. Commendable.”
“Stein offers a critical review of the World Bank’s economic development policy agenda and its theoretical foundations—particularly on state formation, financial development and health policies. His institutionalist perspective points to pragmatic policy alternatives to such increasingly discredited Washington Consensus policies. This book is long overdue.”
“This book is dynamite. It blows to pieces the World Bank and the bogus economics it sold to the poor countries of the world. Professor Stein’s indictment of the World Bank pulls no punches, meticulously documenting the gross incompetence and dishonesty behind the World Bank’s failure to reduce world poverty. Stein’s mastery of economic theory is unmatched, as is his knowledge of world poverty, particularly in Africa. You must read his book.”
Economics and Business: Economics--Development, Growth, Planning | Economics--Government Finance | Economics--International and Comparative | Economics--Money and Banking
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