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svsmith21's review against another edition
4.0
This is a pretty solid book, and I found the first few chapters particularly enjoyable. If anyone wants to know more about conservative economics and how conservatives would conceive of a solution to poverty, then this is the book for you. Unfortunately, it gets a little repetitive and tedious at times. But, it is well-researched and provides a lot of economic and historical arguments for the points made. It's a little dangerous to tie in the Bible to an economics text, but I don't think it's wrong in principal and I can't think of anything that I thought was inappropriate. I especially appreciated that this book tackles a lot of issues that are important for the economic well-being of a nation rather than strictly focusing on economics. Also, the authors are not afraid to be critical of the excesses of their convictions that can be damaging or destructive, which is why I'm glad that they emphasized the importance of certain cultural norms within a nation that will work to bring people out of poverty. Though it is repetitive, it is easy to follow and the main points and arguments generally get stuck in your head as you keep reading them, so I'm grateful for that.
mullinstreetzoo's review against another edition
5.0
Much better than I had hoped. Economics isn't usually a subject that sets my heart a-flutter but this one was an excellent read even for someone fairly ignorant in the topic. Its logic is easy to follow, and it's well structured.
megndl's review against another edition
4.0
As a person working in a developing country I was greatly intrigued by what Grudum and Asmus would have to say in their book ‘The Poverty of Nations’. I’m currently working with a micro-finance project to help empower women in a central Asian country better provide for their families but to also foster community development. With the money the women save they are able to hire literacy teachers to combat the extreme rates of illiteracy, receive sanitary hygiene training, learn to trust one another, and together develop their community.
I appreciated the thoroughness with which Grudum & Asmus developed their content. They were also forthright with who the audience for their book was intended for, their purpose was to contribute to such works as ‘When Helping Hurts’, but to take a higher-level approach at how to help developing countries. Their focus on what successful countries have done and are doing was also a much-appreciated approach (as opposed to focusing on all the things countries are doing incorrectly). Focusing on developing rather then stopping and changing makes the process seem more achievable over a period of time.
Although this book does a thorough job of outlining difference types of governments and economies, from the beginning it is clear which the authors favor. It makes sense that a book coupling economics and theology would have a stance on what works best, but at times it felt like the authors had an agenda and they accomplished it through degrading other systems. Even though I often agreed with what the authors were communicating, I was often turned off by their method of communication. This is something to consider when their audience is government and business leaders in developing countries.
The authors also talk often of the economic crisis in Africa and parts of Central Asia. One thing that they failed to mention, that I think deserves considerable mention is the destructive nature of colonization on many of these countries. As we now seek to help develop these countries it is imperative that we remember the destruction that many Western (now successful economic countries) had when they came into these lands, stripped them of their natural resources, and set up their own form of government. Although we may think that we now come in peace and with better understanding we must remember that they have not forgotten what ‘the white man did’. Understanding culture (which the authors do discuss in chapter 9) cannot be overstated.
If we truly hope to help develop economies in order to personally impact lives, we must come as learners and take the principles outlined in this book and fit them in appropriately. Developing economies is a good work, but it is very difficult and one that cannot be done apart from the wisdom of God.
I appreciated the thoroughness with which Grudum & Asmus developed their content. They were also forthright with who the audience for their book was intended for, their purpose was to contribute to such works as ‘When Helping Hurts’, but to take a higher-level approach at how to help developing countries. Their focus on what successful countries have done and are doing was also a much-appreciated approach (as opposed to focusing on all the things countries are doing incorrectly). Focusing on developing rather then stopping and changing makes the process seem more achievable over a period of time.
Although this book does a thorough job of outlining difference types of governments and economies, from the beginning it is clear which the authors favor. It makes sense that a book coupling economics and theology would have a stance on what works best, but at times it felt like the authors had an agenda and they accomplished it through degrading other systems. Even though I often agreed with what the authors were communicating, I was often turned off by their method of communication. This is something to consider when their audience is government and business leaders in developing countries.
The authors also talk often of the economic crisis in Africa and parts of Central Asia. One thing that they failed to mention, that I think deserves considerable mention is the destructive nature of colonization on many of these countries. As we now seek to help develop these countries it is imperative that we remember the destruction that many Western (now successful economic countries) had when they came into these lands, stripped them of their natural resources, and set up their own form of government. Although we may think that we now come in peace and with better understanding we must remember that they have not forgotten what ‘the white man did’. Understanding culture (which the authors do discuss in chapter 9) cannot be overstated.
If we truly hope to help develop economies in order to personally impact lives, we must come as learners and take the principles outlined in this book and fit them in appropriately. Developing economies is a good work, but it is very difficult and one that cannot be done apart from the wisdom of God.
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