Tropical Gangsters

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Selected as one of the six best nonfiction books of 1990 by the editors f the New York Times Book Review, this is a compelling and entertaining account of the author s two and a half year adventure in Equatorial Guinea, and his efforts to get this small bankrupt African nation on the path of structural development. Read Tropical Gangsters Author Robert Klitgaard – kino-fada.fr I m not really sure why I enjoyed this book so much the author talked a lot about economic restructuring governmental organization etc snore But, every time it threatened to get bogged down, he redirected his focus to the people, culture, and natural beauty of the country He came away from his 2 years in Equatorial Guinea with a true appreciation of the people, and with an I think realistic view of the problems Too often westerners just say well, if that just did x But this a I m not really sure why I enjoyed this book so much the author talked a lot about economic restructuring governmental organization etc snore But, every time it threatened to get bogged down, he redirected his focus to t...I read this book as I m currently working on a project in Equatorial Guinea The book is very readable and provides great insight into how EG matured from independence to its current state The book occurs pre discovery of oil and gas in EG, so doesn t reflect the new wealth from oil and gas Steve C...I got this book for my 12th birthday I still haven t figured out if my parents thought it was actually a fictional adventure story, or just that a book about economic development in Equatorial Guinea would be something I might enjoy As it turned out, I did.Best book ever written on Equatorial GuineaThis is really an excellent book on all levels and I am very glad to have found it As a former Peace Corps Volunteer I could empathize with the author s trials and tribulations in trying to pull off some development work in a badly mis governed country as well as his obvious liking and best wishes for the people he met From this book you get a very clear and down to earth picture of a Equatorial Guinea, one of the forgotten corners of the world, b th Best book ever written on Equatorial GuineaThis is really an excellent book on all levels and I am very glad to have found it As a former Peace Corps Volunteer I...I initially thought this book was about crime and criminals But it is named after a song It is the story of an ivy league economist surfer who worked for the IMF in restructuring underdeveloped economies in third world countries It is a little difficult to believe that the magic elixir for a troubled economy is a combination of weaker currency, less government spending, less government regulation, and privatization This obviously did not work in Equatorial Guinea, the setting for the book I initially thought this book was about crime and criminals But it is named after a song It is the story of an ivy league economist surfer who worked for the IMF in restructuring underdeveloped economies in third world countries It is a little difficult to believe that the magic elixir for a troubled economy is a combination of weaker currency, less government spending, less government regulation, and privatization This obviously did not work in Equatorial Guinea, the setting for the book However, it is interesting to read the author s observations about the problems afflicting these countries The Chinese ambassador told the author that the Equatoguineans treat their infrastructure like shirt...Recommended by a colleague who considered this a good complement to Easterly s White Man s Burden, Tropical Gangsters is the retelling of Klitgaard s years as a World Bank consultant to Equatorial Guinea in the 1980 s Tasked with devising an economic rehabilitation program to resolve the country s debt crisis and impro...Why development hasn t happened, isn t happening, and will never happen in most of Africa In one short, well written and belly laughingly hilarious account.Also is a wonderful dismantling of most developmental aid programs and a whole bunch of U.N sponsored ...One of the best books I ve read on development This book brought me closer than any other to truly understanding the realities of development work The narrative is wonderful and engaging.Equatorial Guinea may be the worst governed nation and with the most badly managed economy in the world although terms like govern don t really apply to this tiny, newly oil rich enclave on the coast of west Africa The head of state, Teodoro Obiang, seized power from his uncle, Francisco Mac as, who became head of state when the colonial power, Spain, left in 1968 Macias was credibly accused of genocide, cannibalism and total insanity he spoke to God regularly and acted based on those disc Equatorial Guinea may be the worst governed nation and with the most badly managed economy in the world although terms like govern don t really apply to this tiny, newly oil rich enclave on the coast of west Africa The head of state, Teodoro Obiang, seized power from his uncle, Francisco Mac as, who became head of state when the colonial power, Spain, left in 1968 Macias was credibly accused of genocide, cannibalism and total insanity he spoke to God regularly and acted based on those discussions Obiang is preferable only in comparison.While Klitgaard s book is dated he finished w...The authors experiences mirror much of what I ve read about aid and Africa First, most of the folks at the top are quite simply crooks, so much of the aid money never reaches its intended recipients Second, even when it does, it s often for programs designed by those from other countries and cultures and while they may feel it addresses the needs of the people the people don t necessarily feel that way One of the points he makes is something I ve heard quite often If they can t be absolu The au...

Tropical Gangsters
  • English
  • 20 October 2018
  • Paperback
  • 296 pages
  • 0465087604
  • Robert Klitgaard
  • Tropical Gangsters