Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Economics

The wealth of nations

A country's affluence depends partly on its institutions. Geographic and other factors yield a fuller explanation, illuminate the origins of ‘good’ institutions, and suggest targets for foreign aid.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

JOSE FUSTE RAGA/CORBIS JOHN MAIER JR/STILL PICTURES

References

  1. Hibbs, D. A. Jr & Olsson, O. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 101, 3715–3720 (2004).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bockstette, V., Chanda, A. & Putterman, L. J. Econ. Growth 7, 347–369 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sachs, J. D. et al. Sci. Am. 284, 62–67 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sachs, J. D. & Malaney, P. Nature 415, 680–685 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sachs, J. D. & Warner, A. M. J. Afr. Economies 6, 335–376 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sachs, J. D. & Warner, A. M. Eur. Econ. Rev. 45, 827–838 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ross, M. World Politics 53, 325–361 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Acemoglu, D., Johnson, S. & Robinson, J. A. Am. Econ. Rev. 1, 1369–1401 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Acemoglu, D., Johnson, S. & Robinson, J. A. Q. J. Econ. 117, 1231–1294 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Smith, A. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776; reprinted by Penguin, London, 1999).

    Google Scholar 

  11. North, D. C. & Thomas, R. P. The Rise of the Western World: A New Economic History (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1973).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Hall, R. E. & Jones, C. R. Q. J. Econ. 114, 83–116 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Knack, S. & Keefer, P. Econ. Politics 7, 207–227 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Easterly, R. & Levine, R.J. Monet. Econ. 50, 3–39 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Diamond, J. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (Norton, New York, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Redman, C. O. Human Impacts on Ancient Environments (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1999).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Diamond, J. The wealth of nations. Nature 429, 616–617 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/429616a

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/429616a

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing