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Development as Freedom

By the winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize in Economics, an essential and paradigm-altering framework for understanding economic development--for both rich and poor--in the twenty-first century.

Freedom, Sen argues, is both the end and most efficient means of sustaining economic life and the key to securing the general welfare of the world's entire population. Releasing the idea of individual freedom from association with any particular historical, intellectual, political, or religious tradition, Sen clearly demonstrates its current applicability and possibilities. In the new global economy, where, despite unprecedented increases in overall opulence, the contemporary world denies elementary freedoms to vast numbers--perhaps even the majority of people--he concludes, it is still possible to practically and optimistically restain a sense of social accountability. Development as Freedom is essential reading.
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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Aug-14-2009

Freedom, Yes.

Sen's deepest enemy in this book is the so-called "Lee thesis," attributed to Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, to the effect that in the Third World, those political systems that suppress democracy and civil liberties are likely to grow faster. Democracy and political rights, according to...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Jul-06-2009

Awesome is Development as Freedom

First of all, it is extremely difficult to get this book and a couple of Milton Friedman books like it. I was surprised when Amazon had all 4 books I needed on Freedom. This and the books like it demonstrate how freedom can be achieved without waging war and without throwing tons of...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Mar-14-2009

Freedom as development

Sen raised a good question on how to explain the recent gulf in economic progress between authoritarian yet fast-growing China and democratic, economically laggard India. His answer is non-institutional and off point. Value and freedom may be relevant, but they are simply not equally fundamental...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Dec-22-2008

Trite yet obvious

I was disappointed with this book. It's really not the least bit insightful or helpful--opening your eyes driving through any slum would yield the observations available here.Look for something else if you're considering this book, or borrow it from a library instead of purchasing.

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Sep-29-2008

Great Book On Development Theory

Development as Freedom dives into the concept that both the result and mechanism of development is the growth of actual freedoms that people enjoy. It is no good to be rich slave.The book dives headfirst into various development theories that both support and oppose this idea and Amartya Sen...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Sep-02-2008

The focus on freedom

Amartya Sen's book answers a question that current development practices beg: Development for the sake of what? He provides grounding for his claim that freedom is both the process to vibrant development, and the goal.Sen distinguishes his speculative new approach on economic development, from...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: May-03-2008

Serious book on Development theory

If you only have a passing interest in development theory, you may find this book terribly boring and hard to read. Certainly, he doesn't go out of his way to be entertaining.But if you are looking for real innovation in thought and discussion on this issue, then this book is a must read. It...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Apr-20-2008

A great thesis on the real purpose of economics

This is a good book by great economist. But, if you are not an economist, like me, you may suffer a bit through the general discussion on economic philosophies through the first few chapters. Once into the later part of the book where modern case studies and data illustrate his point, I found...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Mar-09-2008

Such good ideas... such poor writing

Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen strikes a beautiful balance here between socialists, who have their hearts in the right place but refuse to accept that the market is the best way to help people, and libertarians who believe in freedom but don't acknowledge that being poor limits your freedom as...

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  • From: Amazon
  • Posted: Oct-13-2007

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? If yes buy this book!

Great concepts and ideas, just not very interesting to read. I could only read a page at a time before my mind began to wander off.

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