Ryan Mazzola’s Reviews > Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty > Status Update
Ryan Mazzola
is 40% done
This is an easily falsifiable theory that gets shrouded by the breadth of anecdotal stories they weave together. I do not think this holds up whatsoever. The Roman and Mayan examples they bring up on their own volition falsify their theory, as does the experience of the US, Somalia, and a few other island nations near the equator.
— Nov 26, 2025 01:47PM
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Ryan Mazzola
is starting
This book uncritically applies assumptions of neoclassical economics on every country [and every single civilization] throughout history and forces them to fit within their little box of “inclusive or extractive” institutions as determinant of their prosperity. It’s shocking how narrow-mindedly they approach their research. They hail political centralization and establishment of “good” economic incentives
— Nov 25, 2025 03:13PM
