The Tyranny of Experts

Good Book

This is a very good book. It goes through the history of development. But, after finished reading the book, I wondered how William viewed the American development in Iraq. As a person who witnessed the liberation of Iraq and the millions of dollars from Tax payer’s money goes into sinks and got stolen, I believe there are other factors such as religion, culture, and corruption player a major role. The book talks only in terms of History of that Nation. But, how do you deal with people whose corruption is part of their DNA, love government chairs above their people? Who will kill in name of God to stay in power?

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Unconvincing

The book lacks an overall message and covers many unnecessary details and undigested concepts.

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INDIVIDUAL HUMAN RIGHTS

William Easterly argues that economic progress is a function of individual human rights; more than any past or current form of government. William Easterly is an economist with a theorist’s interest in history. He particularly vilifies autocratic and collective forms of government like North Korea, Ethiopia, and Cuba.

Easterly infers that former imperialist and colonial governments like France and Great Britain have impeded rather than accelerated economic growth of other countries. The suggestion is that, in the long arc of history, the poor are better off without expert’ intervention from today’s World Bank, yesterday’s League of Nations, or other outside organizational experts. Easterly argues that supporting indigenous leaders that focus on individual human rights are the best catalyst for economic growth. He argues for Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” as the best guarantee for economic growth.

Easterly, like all human beings, views the past through eyes of the present. Denying individual rights remains a threat to society but definition and understanding of those rights may be more universally appreciated today because of technology, and the internet. Easterly may be on the right track for societal improvement but his arguments, based on history, are weak. Economies have grown dramatically in the past; despite the denial of individual human rights. Sadly, as Easterly knows, economic growth does not raise all boats, whether prescribed by experts or a free indigenous population.

Guaranteeing individual human rights is not a magic bullet for reducing poverty or improving the lot of the poor. The tyranny of autocrats, experts, and dictators will continue. The poor’s only voice is through consensus building movements like Occupy Wall Street. Movements like Occupy Wall Street are only at their beginning. Public understanding and demand for individual rights is growing because of the internet, but social change remains part of the long arc of history. As in Plato’s time, knowing the good is part of the difficulty of being the good.

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Enjoyed every aspect.

One of the most important criteria I use to just books like this is the ability of the author to critically think and not be a mouthpiece for some ideology.

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Explains the very failed expertocracy

International development has been in the hands of the world's most ignorant decision makers. This is the book that reveals the history of why and how, then explains the solution based also on history.

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must read

Makes a very compelling case as to why top-down plans may not work to solve poverty in developing countries.

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eye opening

this book is revelatory. it challenges assumptions that I didn't realize I even had. truly provoking

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Excellent case for human rights

Strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the debate of democracy vs technocracy, and also the case for why all humans should have equal rights.

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Great read but not as goodnas the w.m. Burden

I enjoyed the book. It makes a good case against authoritarian growth but fails to persuasively show how political freedoms would stimulate growth.

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