Date of Award

3-1-2013

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences

First Advisor

Peter Ho, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Yavuz Yasar

Third Advisor

Ilene Grabel

Fourth Advisor

Chiara Piovani

Keywords

Chang, Economic development, Institutions, Property rights, State

Abstract

This paper examines two distinct schools of thought on how to best spur economic activity in developing economies. Mainstream economists, like Hernando De Soto and Douglass North, argue private property rights and free markets, and the institutions which nourish and protect them, are the primary driver of economic growth. Heterodox economists, led by prominent author and economist Ha-Joon Chang, acknowledge institutions play an important role in inducing economic activity but challenge the notion institutions are the primary driver of development. They argue targeted state-led investment and regulation are as important, if not more important, than protecting market freedom and private property rights in spurring economic growth in developing economies. Specifically, this paper provides a dispassionate global presentation/analysis of the mainstream/dominant discourse, Chang's critique of the mainstream discourse, as well as a thorough presentation of Chang's thoughts on state-led development theory. By analyzing the works of a broad cross-section of prominent mainstream and heterodox development economists in the context of Chang’s challenge to mainstream thought, this paper sought to come to a better understanding of the significance of Chang's contribution to the literature on institutions and development.

This paper concludes that while Chang succeeds at exposing flaws in the mainstream’s arguments, and while he presents a plausible case for state intervention, he is not one-pointedly hostile to the mainstream’s view that property rights and institutions are primary drivers of growth. Indeed, the literature survey summarized above suggests Chang recognizes the importance of property rights but seeks to prod the mainstream into broadening the discussion to include the role of the state, thereby challenging the mainstream’s emphasis on the importance of institutions, specifically private property rights

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Luke M. Jackson

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

58 p.

Discipline

Economics

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