The Rich and The Poor, A Study of the Economics of Rising Expectations
Clarkson N. Potter, 1960. Item #82129
First Edition. Very Good book in a Very Good dust jacket.
“The Rich and the Poor: A Study of the Economics of Rising Expectations” by Robert Theobald is a forward-looking economic and sociopolitical analysis first published in the early 1960s. The book examines the growing disparity between wealthy and poor nations during the post-World War II era, emphasizing the emerging challenge of managing “rising expectations” — the phenomenon where developing nations, increasingly aware of global wealth and modernity, begin demanding better living standards, economic opportunities, and social reforms.
Key Themes:
• Global Inequality: Theobald investigates the widening gap between affluent industrialized nations and the developing world.
• Economic Development: He critiques both capitalist and socialist approaches to growth, advocating for new paradigms of global cooperation.
• Rising Expectations: The central concept of the book, which posits that awareness of inequality — rather than absolute poverty — drives social unrest and political instability.
• Moral Responsibility: The book challenges richer nations to recognize their role in shaping global economic outcomes and to adopt more equitable policies.
Historical Context:
Published during the Cold War and the early days of international development policy (e.g., the Marshall Plan, Point Four Program), the book reflects Theobald’s concern that existing systems were inadequate for creating sustainable, inclusive prosperity.
About the Author:
Robert Theobald was a futurist and economist known for his progressive and sometimes radical views on economics, technology, and social change. He often wrote about the need to rethink traditional economic models in the face of automation, environmental limits, and global inequities.
This book was influential in development economics and presaged debates that continue today on global justice, sustainable development, and the ethics of wealth distribution.
Price: $25.00