While I rather naturally hope that readers will start at Chapter 1 and
persevere to Chapter 16, I realize that not everyone will feel able to invest so
much time in reading the book. Each chapter is preceded by an introduction
which explains what it is about. The following summary also indicates each
chapter's contents.

Those who need to be convinced that orthodox growth theories are
severely flawed should read Chapters 1 and 3.

Those who want to get to the main novel and constructive theoretical
ideas in the book should read Chapters 1, 2, 5, and 6. If time permits, they
should continue with (at least) Chapter 9, and also Chapter 8.

But of what use is theory if it cannot be used to answer questions about
the world? Readers can choose for themselves which chapters in Part IV to
read for this purpose. Chapter 10, on why growth rates differ, is perhaps
the most straightforward application. Chapter 16, on the slow-down in
productivity growth after 1973, deals with the most recent period. Chapter
13, on Fabricant's laws, concludes, rather surprisingly, that labour produc-
tivity tends to grow at the same rate in all industries within a country and
over a given time-period. These are the three chapters one might take first.
Chapter 15, which concludes that there may be a large externality to
investment, so that growth is appreciably sub-optimal, is perhaps the most
doubtful and difficult, but possibly the most important.

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