David Mayer-foulkes

Macroeconomics of Poverty David Mayer-foulkes

Development, underdevelopment and globalization have had a common history since the Great Discoveries led to colonization, trade, and with the Industrial Revolution, to unequal technological development. This book first summarizes the long term history of globalization. It then develops a theory of multiple steady states in technological change (technological poverty traps) to explain how the market economy can generate wide income differences between countries. Next, it shows how poverty traps in education and health can further widen inequality. It then shows that technology traps can exist in the context of trade, explaining the impact of the colonial diktat on the emergence of underdevelopment. Technology traps can also exist in the context of foreign direct investment, characterizing contemporary globalization. Finally, the industrial or mass market economy in general is shown to be characterized by a technology gradient akin to a poverty trap that generates inefficiency and inequality. Free market policies need to be complemented with distributive and innovative policies to improve economic performance and equality. The necessary tax funding can be provided at the national level compatibly with globalization under appropriate international agreements.