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Development as Zombieconomics in the Age of Neoliberalism

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  • Ben Fine

Abstract

Development economics is currently dominated by an orthodoxy that is totally intolerant of alternatives and depends upon seeing both economy and society as based upon the incidence of market and institutional imperfections. This is characterised as ‘zombieconomics’ as it feeds in a reductionist and parasitical fashion on more widely cast and methodologically opposed methods, especially those associated traditionally with development studies and the old or classic development economics. This paper explains how this situation came about in the light of the evolution of economics more generally, and explores how development economics has become Americanised, more influential within development studies, policy- rather than critically oriented, and subject to an agenda increasingly set by the World Bank. It concludes by pointing to the challenges and the opportunities open to development studies as neoliberalism experiences a profound crisis to which the new development economics can only offer partial and piecemeal responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Fine, 2009. "Development as Zombieconomics in the Age of Neoliberalism," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(5), pages 885-904.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:30:y:2009:i:5:p:885-904
    DOI: 10.1080/01436590902959073
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    Cited by:

    1. Murat Arsel & Bengi Akbulut & Fikret Adaman & Yahya M. Madra, 2015. "Forum 2015," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 46(4), pages 733-761, July.
    2. Ben FINE & David HALL, 2010. "Contesting neoliberalism: public sector alternatives for service delivery," Departmental Working Papers 2010-27, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    3. Romain Felli & Noel Castree, 2012. "Neoliberalising Adaptation to Environmental Change: Foresight or Foreclosure?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(1), pages 1-4, January.
    4. Chandra, Yanto, 2018. "New narratives of development work? Making sense of social entrepreneurs’ development narratives across time and economies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 306-326.
    5. Ben Cormier & Mark S. Manger, 2022. "Power, ideas, and World Bank conditionality," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 397-425, July.
    6. Logan Cochrane & Samuel O Oloruntoba, 2021. "Whose voice matters in the teaching and learning of IPE? Implications for policy and policy making [The path of development for underdeveloped countries and marxism speech]," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 40(4), pages 545-564.
    7. Jörg Wiegratz & Pritish Behuria & Christina Laskaridis & Lebohang Liepollo Pheko & Ben Radley & Sara Stevano, 2023. "Common Challenges for All? A Critical Engagement with the Emerging Vision for Post‐pandemic Development Studies," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 54(5), pages 921-953, September.
    8. Murat Arsel & Bram Büscher, 2012. "Nature™ Inc.: Changes and Continuities in Neoliberal Conservation and Market-based Environmental Policy," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 43(1), pages 53-78, January.

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