Summary:
The book presents a provocative examination of the reasons for the divergence in economic growth between industrialized nations and poorer parts of the world since the Industrial Revolution. It argues that differences in productivity and economic success may be attributed to long-term cultural and genetic changes among populations, challenging conventional explanations based on institutional and policy factors.
Key points:
1. Malthusian Trap: Clark describes how pre-Industrial Revolution populations were limited by resources, causing cycles of growth and decline that kept economies from growing.
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