Kicking Away the Ladder

In Kicking Away the Ladder, South Korean economist Ha-Joon Chang challenges the dominant free-market narrative by revealing how today’s rich countries became wealthy, often using protectionist and interventionist policies they now advise developing nations to avoid.

Chang employs a historical lens to demonstrate that many of the world's strongest economies developed through strategies they later discouraged others from adopting.

By exposing the hypocrisy of global economic rules, the book calls for a more honest and equitable approach to development.

Whether you're a student of economics, policymaker, or simply curious about global inequality, this book reshapes how we understand poverty, wealth, and international trade.