Economic Gangsters

Corruption, Violence, and the Poverty of Nations

By: Raymond Fisman, Edmund Miguel

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Meet the economic gangster. He's the United Nations diplomat who double-parks his Mercedes on New York City streets at rush hour because the cops can't touch him--he has diplomatic immunity. He's the Chinese smuggler who dodges tariffs by magically transforming frozen chickens into frozen turkeys. The dictator, the warlord, the unscrupulous bureaucrat who bilks the developing world of billions in aid. The calculating crook who views stealing and murder as just another part of his business strategy. And, in the wrong set of circumstances, he might just be you.

In Economic Gangsters, Raymond Fisman and Edward Miguel take readers into the secretive, chaotic, and brutal worlds inhabited by these lawless and violent thugs. Join these two sleuthing economists as they follow the foreign aid money trail into the grasping hands of corrupt governments and shady underworld characters. Spend time with ingenious black marketeers as they game the international system. Follow the steep rise and fall of stock prices of companies with unseemly connections to Indonesia's former dictator. See for yourself what rainfall has to do with witch killings in Tanzania--and more. Fisman and Miguel use economics to get inside the heads of these "gangsters", and propose solutions that can make a difference to the world's poor--including cash infusions to defuse violence in times of drought, and steering the World Bank away from aid programs most susceptible to corruption.Take an entertaining walk on the dark side of global economic development with Economic Gangsters.

©2008 Raymond Fisman and Edward Miguel (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"In this surprisingly spry read, authors and economics professors Fisman and Miguel tackle economic development issues in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, beginning with the question: after decades of independence and billions in foreign aid, why are so many developing countries still mired in poverty? . . . This thorough, thoughtful guide to global corruption is an engaging, disarmingly upbeat read for fans of Freakonomics and Malcolm Gladwell." (Publishers Weekly)

Economic Thinking in Action

If you are looking for "true crime" this tome does not focus on drug cartels, international slavery or other titilating gangster stuff. It focuses on criminal behavior, though perhaps more mundane, that is no less valuable to the reader. The primary contribution that Fisman and Miguel make to our understanding of crimnal behavior is that related to economic development. Research-based remedies for skimming money off of road construction projects for example is very interesting.

If you have a general interest in crime in its various aspects, this book will be helpful. If you are interested in economic development this book will enlighten. Well written and expertly read by Richard Ferrone, this book provide insights well worth the time applied to it.