In and against Development: From New to Newest Development Economics

The first of two volumes written “in and against development” tells the story of how of The Economics of Everything, or Economics Imperialism, became a dominant presence in development economics.Today, economics imperialism sets the agenda in development studies, with the World Bank taking a leading, if contested, role. This volume examines how this happened, charting the evolution from the old or classic development economics through the new, newer and newest development economics. Drawing critically upon the Kuhnian notions of paradigm shifts, corresponding changes are contextualized materially, intellectually and policy-wise. Covering key issues such as famine, the developmental state, and trade and industrial policy, detailed attention is paid to the potential for alternatives for economics and economic policies.

Ben Fine is Emeritus Professor of Economics at SOAS University of and Visiting Professor at Wits School of Governance, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. His most recent books include Material Cultures of Financialisation, co-edited with Kate Bayliss and Mary Robertson (Routledge, 2018); Race, Class and the Post-Apartheid Democratic State, co-edited with John Reynolds and Robert van Niekerk (University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2019); and A Guide to the Systems of Provision Approach: Who Gets What, How and Why, with Kate Bayliss (Palgrave, 2021). His Marx’s ‘Capital’ (Pluto, 2016) is now in its sixth edition (with co-author Alfredo Saad-Filho). He was founding Chair of the International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy (iippe.org) until June 2023.