What we have learned since Rostow

François Bourguignon () and Jean-Philippe Platteau
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François Bourguignon: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Jean-Philippe Platteau: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, UNamur - Université de Namur [Namur]

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Abstract: This short paper is an attempt to highlight the path trodden by development economists and scholars since Rostow published his famous book "The Take-Off into Self-Sustaining Growth". It proceeds along three major themes: prerequisites or endogenous outcomes; abrupt and gradual changes; and the possibility of non-monotonous development. Its central conclusion is that significant advances have consisted of explorations of incremental changes and their interaction with abrupt shifts, and of applications of political economics to development, including investigations of the political sources of reform stalemate. The authors argue that these new approaches have enabled us to make progress toward a better understanding of the deep factors underpinning development successes or failures, whether temporary or more permanent.This short paper is an attempt to highlight the path trodden by development economists and scholars since Rostow published his famous book "The Take-Off into Self-Sustaining Growth". It proceeds along three major themes: prerequisites or endogenous outcomes; abrupt and gradual changes; and the possibility of non-monotonous development. Its central conclusion is that significant advances have consisted of explorations of incremental changes and their interaction with abrupt shifts, and of applications of political economics to development, including investigations of the political sources of reform stalemate. The authors argue that these new approaches have enabled us to make progress toward a better understanding of the deep factors underpinning development successes or failures, whether temporary or more permanent.

Date: 2026-05
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Published in World Development, 2026, 201, ⟨10.1016/j.worlddev.2026.107335⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-05649728

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2026.107335

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