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Why Nations Fail

Daron Acemoglu, James A. Robinson

19 people recommended it in 14 threads, 2014–2024.

1 commenter pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.

What people on Hacker News said

fsloth
Acemoglu: Why nations fail. This is a must read. It attempts to explain (with great success) how institutions have molded the modern states into the way they are now, and what exactly seems to be at the root of inequality and prosperity.

on HN, 2020

james_s_tayler
Why Nations Fail really helped give me deep intuitions around politics. It taught me that political stability is immensely hard to achieve and very rare. I've since come to see every situation as a political situation. This helps me reason about my environment much more clearly.

on HN, 2019

miki_tyler
According to the book, a decisive role for the development is played by political and economic institutions being “extractive” (slavery, serfdom, and encomienda systems) or “inclusive” (universal protection of property rights, not just for the elite).

on HN, 2022

habnds
A book to read immediately after Guns Germs and Steel is Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu.

on HN, 2019

james_s_tayler
I learned that from reading Why Nations Fail. It busted the whole myth of "progress" and replaced it with "change".

on HN, 2019

baristaGeek
I would like to give a recommendation that might be a little bit different: 'Why Nations Fail' by Acemoglu.

on HN, 2016

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