Development Projects Observed
"The experience accumulated in the wake of more than two decades of sustained effort to promote growth and change in the low-income countries presents a rich field for scholarly inquiry and new insights into the development process. The success and failures of such projects, the new skills and attitudes they impart, and the internal tensions they sometimes generate obviously have an important bearing on the next stages of a county's development effort. Yet little has become known about these truly formative experiences which are due to the behavior—and misbehavior—of development projects. In this recent volume, Professor Albert O. Hirschman turns his attention to the ways in which decision making is molded, activated, or hampered by the specific nature of the project that is undertaken; for example, the establishment and operation of a pulp and paper mill in east Pakistan, an irrigation project in Peru, railway expansion in Nigeria, and other development undertakings. In some parts of the present inquiry Hirschman elaborates on his earlier writings in this series; and occasionally, he qualifies or modifies his previous conclusions; the bulk of the study explores new territory.

"
1117251999
Development Projects Observed
"The experience accumulated in the wake of more than two decades of sustained effort to promote growth and change in the low-income countries presents a rich field for scholarly inquiry and new insights into the development process. The success and failures of such projects, the new skills and attitudes they impart, and the internal tensions they sometimes generate obviously have an important bearing on the next stages of a county's development effort. Yet little has become known about these truly formative experiences which are due to the behavior—and misbehavior—of development projects. In this recent volume, Professor Albert O. Hirschman turns his attention to the ways in which decision making is molded, activated, or hampered by the specific nature of the project that is undertaken; for example, the establishment and operation of a pulp and paper mill in east Pakistan, an irrigation project in Peru, railway expansion in Nigeria, and other development undertakings. In some parts of the present inquiry Hirschman elaborates on his earlier writings in this series; and occasionally, he qualifies or modifies his previous conclusions; the bulk of the study explores new territory.

"
25.0 In Stock
Development Projects Observed

Development Projects Observed

by Albert O. Hirschman
Development Projects Observed

Development Projects Observed

by Albert O. Hirschman

Paperback(New Edition)

$25.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 3-7 days. Typically arrives in 3 weeks.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

"The experience accumulated in the wake of more than two decades of sustained effort to promote growth and change in the low-income countries presents a rich field for scholarly inquiry and new insights into the development process. The success and failures of such projects, the new skills and attitudes they impart, and the internal tensions they sometimes generate obviously have an important bearing on the next stages of a county's development effort. Yet little has become known about these truly formative experiences which are due to the behavior—and misbehavior—of development projects. In this recent volume, Professor Albert O. Hirschman turns his attention to the ways in which decision making is molded, activated, or hampered by the specific nature of the project that is undertaken; for example, the establishment and operation of a pulp and paper mill in east Pakistan, an irrigation project in Peru, railway expansion in Nigeria, and other development undertakings. In some parts of the present inquiry Hirschman elaborates on his earlier writings in this series; and occasionally, he qualifies or modifies his previous conclusions; the bulk of the study explores new territory.

"

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780815736516
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 04/11/2002
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 218
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)

About the Author

"Albert O. Hirschman is professor emeritus in the School of Social Science in the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton."

Table of Contents

Author's Preface: A Hidden Ambitionvii
Forewordxiii
Author's Acknowledgmentsxvii
Introduction1
1The Principle of the Hiding Hand9
2Uncertainties35
Varieties of Uncertainties37
Supply Uncertainties: Technology39
Supply Uncertainties: Administration45
Supply Uncertainties: Finance56
Excess Demand59
Inadequate Demand65
Digression: The R&D Strategy75
Mitigation of Uncertainties81
3Latitudes and Disciplines86
Spatial or Locational Latitude87
Temporal Discipline in Construction95
Temporal Discipline from Construction to Operation103
Latitude for Corruption107
Latitude in Substituting Quantity for Quality112
Latitude in Substituting Private for Public Outlays119
4Project Design: Trait-Taking and Trait-Making128
The Dilemma of Design130
Implicit Trait-Making: A Failure in Nigeria139
Entrained Trait-Making148
The Autonomous Agency as a Hybrid153
5Project Appraisal: The Centrality of Side-Effects160
Side-Effects as Essential Requirements161
Pure and Mixed Side-Effects163
Smuggling in Change via Side-Effects168
Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Offensive Against Side-Effects174
Counteroffensives180
Modesty and Ambition in Project Planning185
Index191
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews