Alice Amsden

Alice Amsden is researcher in the field of heterodox political economy. She is currently the Barton L. Weller Professor of Political Economics at MIT, in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, International Development Group.

Amsden received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her PhD from the London School of Economics. Professor Amsden began her career as an economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and taught at University of California, Los Angeles, Barnard College at Columbia University, Harvard Business School and The New School before being appointed professor at MIT in 1994. In addition to teaching and writing, she has been a consultant to the World Bank, OECD and various organizations within the United Nations. In 2002, she was awarded the Leontief Prize by the Global Development and Environment Institute and was named one of the top 50 visionaries by Scientific American for her premise that one-size-fits-all economic policies are ill-suited for poor countries looking to become industrialized.

Amsden has written several books about the industrialization of developing countries. She emphasizes the importance of state as a facilitator and guide of economic development. She also sees knowledge as a crucial determinant of economic growth. Her books include "Asia's Next Giant: South Korea and Late Industrialisation" and "The Rise of the Rest". In the former she concentrates on the development of South Korea and in the latter she compares the experiences of several developing countries - mostly East Asian and Latin American countries.

Books

In addition to numerous journal articles, Professor Amsden has authored

"Escape from Empire: The Developing World's Journey through Heaven and Hell", MIT Press, 2007.
"Beyond Late Development: Taiwan's Upgrading Policies" , MIT Press, 2003,(with Wan Wen Chu).
"The Rise of "The Rest": Challenges to the West From Late-Industrializing Economies", Oxford University Press, 2001.
"The Market Meets Its Match: Restructuring the Economies of EasternEurope", Harvard University Press,1994 (with Jacek Kochanowicz and Lance Taylor).
"Asia's Next Giant: South Korea and Late Industrialization", OxfordUniversity Press, 1989. Awarded "Best Book in Political Economy," American Political ScienceAssociation, 1992.

Sources

* [http://web.mit.edu/dusp/idg/people/faculty/aamsden-cv.pdf: Alice Amsden CV]
*"Scientific American" December, 2002, page 75.