A Look at the Wealth of Nations

A new book by the World Bank presents estimates of total wealth for nearly 120 countries, using economic theory to decompose the wealth of a nation into its component pieces: produced capital, natural resources and human resources.

The wealth estimates provide a unique opportunity to look at economic management from a broader and comprehensive perspective. The book’s basic tenet is that economic development can be conceived as a process of portfolio management, so that sustainability becomes an integral part of economic policy making. The rigorous analysis, presented in accessible format, tackles issues such as growth, development and equity.

Where is the Wealth of Nations? is organized in four sections. The first part introduces the wealth estimates and highlights the main facts on the level and composition of wealth across countries. The second part analyzes changes in wealth and how they matter for economic policy. The third part deals with the level of wealth, its composition and links to growth and inequality. The last part reviews existing applications of resource and environmental accounting.

Order the book from World Bank.