The Rise and Decline of Nations

In this book, Mancur Olson presents a theory that explains why some countries experience rapid economic growth while others stagnate.

He argues that the longer a society enjoys political stability, the more likely it is to develop powerful special-interest lobbies that make the economy less efficient.

Olson uses historical examples, including the post-World War II growth of Germany and Japan, to illustrate how the breakdown of these coalitions can lead to periods of rapid growth.

He also discusses the impact of these groups on issues such as stagflation, unemployment, and social rigidities.