The Tyranny of Experts

Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor

William Easterly

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The Tyranny of Experts" by William Easterly offers a critical analysis of how the development industry has perpetuated a cycle of failed interventions and continued poverty. Easterly argues that the rigid, top-down approach to development, led by "experts" with a one-size-fits-all mentality, has undermined the value of individual freedom, led to unintended consequences, and ignored the voices and needs of local communities.

Drawing on examples from around the world, Easterly exposes the flaws inherent in the expert-driven development model. He highlights the negative impacts of technocratic solutions that disregard local knowledge and impose uniform policies. Easterly demonstrates how this approach has led to ineffective aid programs, corruption, and the unintended exacerbation of existing problems.

Challenging the autocratic nature of development initiatives, Easterly advocates for a shift towards empowering individuals and communities to take charge of their own destinies. He emphasizes the importance of accountability, participatory decision-making, and allowing local solutions to emerge organically. By treating individuals as agents of change, Easterly argues, genuine development can occur.

"The Tyranny of Experts" offers a thought-provoking critique of traditional development practices, exposing the hidden costs and long-term repercussions of top-down approaches. Easterly presents a compelling argument for embracing the principles of liberty, individual empowerment, and decentralized decision-making to create sustainable and inclusive development outcomes.

Explore More Books

See All
Focus
The Prophet
Masters of Doom
The Professor in the Cage
Life on the Edge
Waiting for Godot
Lateral Thinking
The Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson
Work Hard. Be Nice.
What Do You Care What Other People Think?
Big World, Small Planet
Where The Wild Things Are
Eating to Extinction
The Spectator
One Monster After Another
Wonderworks
Tragedy and Hope
Sex, Ecology, Spirituality
A Brief History of Time
Rick and Morty Book One
Black Flags
Pale Rider
Hooked
For The Love Of Physics
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind
The Man Who Invented Fidel
The Cost Of Hope
America's War for the Greater Middle East
Chaos
The Celestine Prophecy
Between The World And Me
She Said
Plagues and Peoples
How The West Grew Rich
Competing Against Luck
Consolations
Survival to Thrival
Mother of God
Believe Me
These Truths
Gay Like Me
Dealers of Lightning
Lake Success
The Holy Bible
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Bend The Curve
The Price We Pay
Broken Money
Setting The Table
Fallout
Race and Culture
Snow Crash
The Fabric of Reality
Mismatch
Origins of Political Order
Diffusion of Innovations
Frisco Kid
The New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History
Margin of Safety
The Social Animal
Mohammed and Charlemagne
Contrarian Investment Strategies
Hit Men
No Easy Day
Every Life Is On Fire
Creativity, Inc.
Graphs, Maps, Trees
The Sports Gene
Wake Up: Why The World Has Gone Nuts
Fast Food Nation
The Third Pillar
Parents Who Lead
Lean Thinking
Consciousness Medicine
Hidden Potential
Why Wages Rise
Lord of Light
Creating Shareholder Value
Beating The Street
The Soul of A New Machine
The Jungle Grows Back
The Breakthrough
Tao Te Ching
Count Down
The Snow Leopard
UFO Hunters
The Rise of Superman
The Best We Could Do
Lean Solutions
Mindset
Founding Brothers
Fortune's Formula
Zoning Rules!
Working Backwards
Foundation's Edge
Clearing The Air
Super Maker
Resistance (At All Costs)
Hold 'em Poker
Science and Method