Writing the History of Development Economics

The disciplinary field of development economics has been surrounded by controversies since its inception in the postwar period. Although growth economics and development economics were born around the same time span, they evolved in different ways. Full histories of development economics started to appear in the 1980s, produced mostly by development economists and reflecting their experiences. This has changed in the last two decades or so, as historians of thought have contributed to reinterpret the evolution and divisions within development economics. this article offers a first assessment of the history of development economics, highlights its accomplishments and limits, and discusses new lines of inquiry. IN particular, it emphasises the inherent tension within development economics between theory and practice, as well as the nexus between the development of specific techniques and approaches and the implementation of policies.