Ideas Untrapped

Can the whole world become prosperous? This is the central question in economic development, and the ambitious goal to end global poverty. For societies that are yet to experience widely shared prosperity - finding the right balance of policies, social incentives, and underlying governance systems to make it possible has obsessed social science research for over five decades. This search has yielded many answers ranging from the primacy of geography to the importance of institutions. What has been emphasised less, in our view, is the role of ideas in making history. In investigating the role of ideas, Tobi Lawson talks to social scientists and thinkers, policymakers, and investors. Great things can happen when the organizing principles of a society allows free inquiry. Using and reusing ideas is the key to prosperity - but equally important is when bad ideas die out.