Reviews and Endorsements

Among the many books written on the new world economy, this is one of the most profound. A must-read for everyone interested in the mega-trends shaping the future of the world economy.

Justin Yifu Lin, senior vice president and chief economist, World Bank

Among economists, common sense is not that common. Fortunately, Michael Spence has long bucked the trend. In this book he dispenses wisdom on economic growth—and much else—in accessible, bite-sized chunks. The world's policy makers better listen.

Dani Rodrik, Rafiq Hariri professor of international political economy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

The emergence of China is just part of an amazing catching-up process going on in the world. We all feel this profound change, but few of us have the ability to step back, put it in perspective, analyze the past, and guess where the future is taking us. Michael Spence has it, and he delivers. This is serious thinking on essential issues. I learned a lot from the book, both in the small and in the large; I am sure other readers will as well.

Olivier Blanchard, chief economist, International Monetary Fund

I always knew that Michael Spence was a terrific economist. After reading this book I realize that he also has the rare ability to see the world economy—all of it, rich and poor—with clarity, reason, and empathy. If you are looking for a lucid, readable, consistent, unprejudiced picture of what has been happening and what might happen next in the world economy, this is an excellent place to find it.

Robert Solow, winner of the 1987 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

Rarely does one find a book that is so powerful in its analysis, timely in its topic, relevant in its thinking, and clear in its exposition. Combining his Nobel Prize–winning theoretical brilliance and unmatched operational experience, Michael Spence explains clearly complex multispeed dynamics that are rapidly impacting our world and influencing the current and future well-being of billions. This is by far the best book I have seen on today's historical growth transformations.

Mohamed A. El-Erian, CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO; author of When Markets Collide

I enjoyed reading this book. It is an entirely sensible take on catch-up growth, a topic which is lacking a good popular treatment and yet deserves one. I found each of the short chapters well-written and to the point.

Tyler Cowen, MarginalRevolution.com

Michael Spence has long been pointing out the frictions that interfere with efficient markets. He won the Nobel Prize in Economics for this in 2001, together with George Akerlof and Joseph Stiglitz. In recent years Mr. Spence has been preoccupied with the economics of development and growth, and his interest in laissez-faire's flaws has stayed with him. His new book, The Next Convergence, warns of the frictions that arise when the world tries to accommodate both rapidly growing emerging giants like India and China and slow-growing developed countries like America.

Economist

Contrary to his book's title, Nobel Prize–winning economist Spence does less prognosticating than one might expect. Indeed, early on he shares a chart showing just how inaccurately economists predicted growth during the 1990s. Instead, he offers a comprehensive summary of the forces at play in today's global economy: removal of trade barriers, the lightning-fast transfer of knowledge from developed to emerging economies, global demand, resources, the role of national and international governments, and the management (or not) of currency rates, among others.

Alan Moores, American Library Association Booklist

. . . the two most populous countries—China and India—began to grow at rates close to 10 percent. If these trends continue, we will witness, in our lifetimes, a third historical swing: a renewed convergence of living standards. What was once the privilege of a favored few will become commonplace for many. This potentially epochal process is the subject of Michael Spence's remarkable new book, The Next Convergence.

Josh Felman, Finance & Development Magazine