The Wealth and Poverty of Nations

January 10, 17, 24 and 31

Why are some countries rich and others poor? Why is the world a much wealthier place today than it was in the past? These are arguably the most important questions in economics because our material well-being is directly related to the wealth or poverty of the country in which we live. Those of us who reside in the richer countries of the world enjoy living standards that would have been unimaginable to our distant ancestors. Not all countries, however, have shared equally in the economic growth of the last two centuries.

The opening forum of 2013 will examine the basic facts about economic growth around the world and explore some of the various hypotheses that have been put forward as explanations for the wealth and poverty of nations. Specific topics covered by Economics Professor Phillip Garner will include the determinants of labor productivity, governance, trade, geography, foreign aid and what the economic future may hold.


Phillip Garner
Assistant Professor of Stead Department of Business Administration and Economics