A farewell to alms: a brief economic history of the world

Introduction : the sixteen-page economic history of the world

The logic of the Malthusian economy

Material living standards

Fertility

Life expectancy

Malthus and Darwin : survival of the richest

Technological advance

Institutions and growth

The emergence of modern man

Modern growth : the wealth of nations

The puzzle of the industrial revolution

The industrial revolution in England

Why England? Why not China, Japan or India?

Social consequences

World growth since 1800

The proximate sources of divergence

Why isn't the whole world developed?

Conclusion : strange new world.