نبذة مختصرة : Is a general theory of economic development possible ? Almost all studies of economic growth attempt to construct a general theory , applicable to all types of society. But it can be questioned whether such theories could be applied to any economy at all. On the other hand , there are studies of «under-developed» countries , but these are seldom concerned with theory ; there is a conflict between technological , political and economic fact and the causal relations postulated in theory. The development of Keynsian macro-dynamic models has unduly narrowed economists’ descriptions of the evolutionary process ; explanation of the technological acceleration which has been characteristic of industrialisation requires a much broader analysis. This modern approach is in contrast with theories of development during the period of industrialisation , when ideas evolved through a series of theses and counter-theses which the author describes. Following upon this survey, it is argued that there are two sorts of difficulty that any theory of economic development (whether general or not) must meet. These are fundamental difficulties (concerned with the evolution of technology, political institutions, and social values), and special difficulties (concerned with the problems of aggregation, production and income distribution, productive capacity and depreciation). The author concludes that a general theory of development is not conceivable, any more than a truly general theory of cyclical fluctuations. But specific theories can be developed, and should embody at least three principles : the theory should : 1) Be founded upon a causal analysis of the region, based upon empirical evidence ; 2) Be a theory of structural change ; 3) Be constructed within the limits set by the existing institutional framework.
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