American Economic Review · 2025 · James A. Robinson
中文摘要
我的研究表明，世界不平等可以用榨取型制度与包容型制度的分布来解释。但为什么有些国家会形成榨取型制度？我区分了两个主要原因：其一是权力关系，其二是“规范秩序”。规范秩序为某些制度提供理据与正当性——这些制度或许无法带来繁荣，却可能实现其他目标。这一区分至关重要，因为在努力使制度更具包容性、创造繁荣的过程中，二者带来的挑战截然不同。我说明了各国如何因这两方面的改变而摆脱经济边缘地位。然而，我本人的学术历程却是朝相反方向而行，这也是本文标题的由来：我有幸出生于英国，但为了能按照其他社会自身的条件去理解它们，我不得不摒弃自身经验、社会化过程与所受训练中的许多内容。这不仅是能够帮助它们的关键，也是向它们学习的关键。（JEL D02, D63, E23, K00, O43, Q32）
Abstract
My research suggests that world inequality is explained by the incidence of extractive and inclusive institutions. But why do some countries have extractive institutions? I distinguish between two main reasons; first, power relations; second, the “normative order.” Normative orders provide justifications and legitimacy for institutions which may not generate prosperity, but may achieve other goals. These distinctions are critical because they create very different challenges in trying to make institutions more inclusive and create prosperity. I show how countries move from the economic periphery as a consequence of changing both. My own intellectual journey has been in the other direction, however, hence the title of the paper: I was fortunate to be born in Britain, but I have had to unlearn much of my own experience, socialization and training in order to see other societies on their own terms. That’s crucial to be able to help them, but also to learn from them. (JEL D02, D63, E23, K00, O43, Q32)