A "provocative...persuasive" (The New York Times) book that examines countries' economic destinies.

In False Economy, Alan Beattie weaves together elements of economics, history, politics, and human stories, revealing that governments and countries make concrete choices that can determine whether they remain a rich or poor nation. He also addresses larger questions about why they make they choices they do, and what they mean for the future of our global economy. But despite the heady subject matter, False Economy is a lively and lucid book that engagingly and thought-provokingly examines macroeconomics and the fault lines and successes that can make or break a culture. Along the way, readers will discover why Africa doesn't grow cocaine, why our asparagus comes from Peru, why our keyboard spells QWERTY, and why giant pandas are living on borrowed time.