Commentary by Peter Delp

Abstract

“Strategies of Development: A Survey” provdes an interesting and entertaining survey of the theories of development economics using a metaphor of the three-ring circus. The image of economists competing for the limelight of center stage in the tasks of development planning, providing advice to both governments and donors and in scholarly pursuits does seem to be a fitting depiction, if not the clearest to follow. Here briefly is a summary. Adjacent to the center ring of the circus--the arena of policies and tactics -- the authors describe two side rings which represent competing schools of economic thought: a mainstream ring shared by both interventionists and noninterventionists, and a third ring populated by political economists (e.g., Marxists and dependency theorists). The survey concludes by describing three sideshows to the main rings, which they believe could eventually set the agenda for future development strategies.