'Just when the institutionalist approach to economic development is at risk of seeming like a 'black box' for tautological non-explanations, this volume of richly historically informed andnuanced studies will restore confidence in the value, if not superiority, of this approach to the political economy of development.'Jomo K.S., Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, United Nations'Much has been said about institutions in development, but this book takes us to a new level of analysis, with a very thorough understanding of the history and political economy of institution-building. Along the way it demolishes much of the conventional wisdom, and sets a new standard that all future research on institutions must match.'Tony Addison, Executive Director of the Brooks World Poverty Institute, University of Manchester