Why are some countries rich, and some poor? Does this status persist throughout time, and if so, why? How can a country escape poverty?

In this Very Short Introduction, Robert C. Allen explores the interplay of geography, globalization, technological change, economic policy, and institutions, to show how they have determined the wealth and poverty of nations around the world. Using historical examples to analyze the factors that have influenced growth, he exposes what has caused the unequal world we live in today, focusing on recent changes in equality and world economic disruption.