False Economy -A Surprising Economic History of the World

Abstract

"History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors and issues ... " says Thomas Eliot. Economic history as narrated by Alan Beattie in this book would seem to bear out the poet's haunting admonition. "The paths taken by different countries largely reflect the decisions they took, even if they were unaware they were making them. Had they made other choices, things might have turned out very differently".