Throughout history, individual decisions have shaped the economic destinies of nations. No country's fate is determined simply by geography, history, religion, or natural resources. In False Economy , Alan Beattie tackles misconceptions about the modern world, looking back at history through economic binoculars, questioning various assumptions about Islam, Africa, corruption, government subsidies, and more. Wholly accessible, brilliantly argued, and full of surprises, it's not only a historical explanation of how the world got to its current point, but also a look at how our past affects our future.