Escape from Empire: The Developing World's Journey Through Heaven and Hell

Alice H. Amsden is Barton T. Weller Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"A valuable contribution to the appraisal of international development disappointments, not least because of the meticulous analysis of American economic foreign policy in the twentieth century." -- Patrick Shea, Political Studies Review "This distinguished book by an American economist shows how the U.S. changed from a benevolent to an aggressive empire, slashing growth and unleashing financial crises." --Luiz Carlos Bresser-Pereira, former Finance Minister of Brazil and Emeritus Economics Professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation "One of the most enchanting books in generations to unravel how giants battle imperial know-it-alls and make their own way." --Yoon-Dae Euh, President, Korea University, and Vice Chair, National Economic Advisory Council of Korea "A thrilling account of how daredevils of economic development soar to heaven and outwit hell. At last, a shrewd study of the two postwar American empires, one permissive and the other ideological. I salute Alice Amsden for this bold and scholarly attempt." --G.K. Chadha, Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council "Amsden wittily demonstrates how countries that enrich themselves avoid experts' mistakes and succeed on their own responsibility. Listen hard, Russia!" --Sergey Glazyev, Member of Russian Parliament and Economist, Russian Academy of Science "Amsden reveals with sparkle and insight how much developing countries can achieve when allowed to think for themselves." --Guo Shuqing, Chairman of the Board, China Construction Bank