The elusive quest for growth : economists' adventures and misadventures in the tropics / William Easterly.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [313]-333) and index.

Machine generated contents note: I Why Growth Matters 1 -- 1 To Help the Poor 5 -- Intermezzo: In Search of a River 16 -- II Panaceas That Failed 21 -- 2 Aid for Investment 25 -- Intermezzo: Parmila 45 -- 3 Solow's Surprise: Investment Is Not the Key to Growth 47 -- Intermezzo: Dry Cornstalks 70 -- 4 Educated for What? 71 -- Intermezzo: Without a Refuge 85 -- 5 Cash for Condoms? 87 -- Intermezzo: Tomb Paintings 99 -- 6 The Loans That Were, the Growth That Wasn't 101 -- Intermezzo: Leila's Story 121 -- 7 Forgive Us Our Debts 123 -- Intermezzo: Cardboard House 138 -- III People Respond to Incentives 141 -- 8 Tales of Increasing Returns: Leaks, Matches, and Traps 145 -- Intermezzo: War and Memory 170 -- 9 Creative Destruction: The Power of Technology 171 -- Intermezzo: Accident in Jamaica 193 -- 10 Under an Evil Star 195 -- Intermezzo: Favela Life 215 -- 11 Governments Can Kill Growth 217 -- Intermezzo: Florence and Veronica 240 -- 12 Corruption and Growth 241 -- Intermezzo: Discrimination in Palanpur 253 -- 13 Polarized Peoples 255 -- Intermezzo: Violent for Centuries 282 -- 14 Conclusion: The View from Lahore 285 -- Notes 293 -- References and Further Reading 313 -- Index 335.