The Economist's Tale - Peter Griffiths

The Economist’s Tale: A Consultant Encounters Hunger and the World Bank by Peter Griffiths

In The Economist’s Tale, Peter Griffiths—an economist who worked inside the World Bank—offers a rare, uncomfortable insider’s account of how global development policy actually functions on the ground. Through real experiences in countries facing hunger and poverty, he exposes the gap between elegant economic models and the harsh realities they often fail to address.

This book is part memoir, part critique, and part moral reckoning. Griffiths doesn’t attack economics itself; he questions how institutions apply it—sometimes blindly—while millions continue to suffer. It’s a sobering read for anyone who believes good intentions automatically lead to good outcomes. Buy in Kenya with fast delivery from Readers’ Republik.

What you’ll learn

• How World Bank projects are designed and evaluated in practice

• Why economic theory often clashes with lived reality

• The institutional pressures that shape development decisions

• How well-meaning policies can still cause harm

• Why humility matters in global development work

Who should read the book

• Readers interested in development economics and global policy

• Students of economics, international relations, and aid work

• Professionals working in NGOs, consulting, or public policy

• Anyone curious about how global institutions really operate

Why buy The Economist's Tale from Readers’ Republik

• Fast, reliable delivery anywhere in Kenya

• A carefully selected catalogue of serious, thought-provoking books

• Supporting a Kenyan bookseller committed to informed reading