Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction investigates why some countries are rich while others remain poor, analysing how geography, globalization, technology, policy, and institutions shape prosperity. It traces how historical developments and regional disparities create enduring patterns of wealth and poverty across the world. This VSI examines key turning points in global growth, revealing how technological change and economic integration drive inequality and transformation. Allen uses comparative and historical analysis to explain the forces that sustain or disrupt national development. Finally, it offers a compelling overview of how nations rise, stagnate, or escape poverty in a global economy.</jats:p>