The Rise and Fall of the Wealth of Nations

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The Rise and Fall of the Wealth of Nations

Long Waves in Economics and International Politics

9781858985480 Edward Elgar Publishing
The late Manfred Neumann, formerly Professor Emeritus of Economics, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Publication Date: July 1997 ISBN: 978 1 85898 548 0 Extent: 192 pp
The Rise and Fall of the Wealth of Nations is an interdisciplinary study concerning growth and cycles in economic development. It builds a bridge between rigorous economic theory and historical studies of long run economic evolution.

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Critical Acclaim
Contents
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The Rise and Fall of the Wealth of Nations is an interdisciplinary study concerning growth and cycles in economic development. It builds a bridge between rigorous economic theory and historical studies of long run economic evolution.

This authoritative book explains long waves of economic activity and the rivalry of nations for leadership. It considers the concept that such waves of activity are characterized by a cyclical change of societies focusing alternately on capital accumulation and distribution. It also discusses the idea that a change in the economic leadership of a nation occurs after nations reach the height of their influence and turn away from accumulating capital in favour of distribution of income and wealth.

This volume will be welcomed by academics, policymakers and students of economics and economic history.
Critical Acclaim
‘This book is a major contribution, with particular importance to those with an interest in growth theory and business cycles. . . Such a socio-cultural explanation of economic phenomena is unusual and highly original.’
– Christopher Freeman, SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Sussex, UK and Maastricht University, the Netherlands

‘It is a book that will interest anyone concerned with growth theory and business cycles.’
– CIB News

‘“This is an important, original and timely book dealing with a big question: “Why does the prosperity of nations rise and fall?” In this sense, the book is in a line of literature that includes a number of best selling scholarly books, such as those by Paul Kennedy and Mancur Olson. But Neumann is able to provide insights that have previously escaped these other authors. He argues that the time preference between work and consumption is dictated by the economic circumstances shaping each generation. This time preference in turn shapes the growth rate and level of economic well being. I find these arguments plausible, interesting and important.’
– David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, Bloomington, US and Otto Beisheim School WHU, Germany
Contents
Contents: Preface 1. Introduction 2. Long Waves in the Economy and in Politics 3. Abundance of Explanations 4. Time Preference 5. Capital Formation with Population Growth 6. Economic Growth with Technological Change 7. Growth under Uncertainty and Imperfect Foresight 8. Long Waves of Economic Development 9. Long Waves and Business Cycles 10. Natural Resources and Population 11. Institutional Change 12. The History of Long Waves 13. International Rivalry 14. Epilogue Index
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