KICKING AWAY THE LADDER by Ha-Joon Chang (epub)(Nonfiction)

KICKING AWAY THE LADDER by Ha-Joon Chang (epub)(Nonfiction)
Author: Ha-Joon Chang
Publication Date: July 1, 2002
Length: 196 pages
Genre: Nonfiction, Economics, Development Studies, Political Economy

In this provocative work, Chang challenges neoliberal orthodoxy by examining how now-rich countries like the UK, US, and Japan industrialized through tariffs, subsidies, and intellectual property theft—policies they now deny to poorer nations via institutions like the IMF and WTO. Using historical evidence from the 18th century onward, he debunks the idea that free trade and minimal state intervention are prerequisites for growth, arguing instead that such advice hinders development in the Global South and perpetuates inequality. The book is concise yet rigorous, blending economic history with policy critique to advocate for context-specific strategies that allow emerging economies to protect infant industries