This book by the distinguished British economic historian Angus Maddison (1926-2010) describes the forces that led some countries and regions to become wealthy while others were significantly delayed in their development. The first part of the book covers 2,000 years of history, beginning with an examination of the Roman Empire and the key factors that influenced the economic development of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The second part examines the development of macroeconomic analytical tools from the 17th century to the present day. The third part offers a look into the future, outlining the contours of the global economy in 2030.
The combination of rigorous quantitative analysis with a qualitative approach that takes into account the full complexity of the forces at play makes this publication a unique work on global economic history.