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Reforming the Unreformable: Lessons from Nigeria Kindle Edition

by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 55 ratings
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A report on development economics in action, by a crucial player in Nigeria's recent reforms.

Corrupt, mismanaged, and seemingly hopeless: that's how the international community viewed Nigeria in the early 2000s. Then Nigeria implemented a sweeping set of economic and political changes and began to reform the unreformable. This book tells the story of how a dedicated and politically committed team of reformers set out to fix a series of broken institutions, and in the process repositioned Nigeria's economy in ways that helped create a more diversified springboard for steadier long-term growth.

The author, Harvard- and MIT-trained economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, currently Nigeria's Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance and formerly Managing Director of the World Bank, played a crucial part in her country's economic reforms. In Nigeria's Debt Management Office, and later as Minister of Finance, she spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club that led to the wiping out of $30 billion of Nigeria's external debt, 60 percent of which was outright cancellation. Reforming the Unreformable offers an insider's view of those debt negotiations; it also details the fight against corruption and the struggle to implement a series of macroeconomic and structural reforms.

This story of development economics in action, written from the front lines of economic reform in Africa, offers a unique perspective on the complex and uncertain global economic environment.

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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0262018142
  2. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  3. Publisher
    The MIT Press
  4. Publication date
    September 21, 2012
  5. Language
    English
  6. File size
    3044 KB
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

This extremely informative and thought-provoking book provides a masterful account of the interplay of technical economic management and political will constrained by vested interest in undertaking transformative reforms in developing countries. Every page speaks to the Liberian experience in microcosm. This will be required reading by the Cabinet and students in our institutions of higher learning. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala remains a courageous champion for sound economic management and performance.

(Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia)

An important book which incisively reveals what the real barriers to development are, and the political constraints to removing them. Inspiring and compulsory reading for development scholars and practitioners.

(James Robinson, David Florence Professor of Government, Harvard University)

Just as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala forces open budget processes, these pages force open our eyes to the complexities of political life in Nigeria. Throughout her incarnations as the corruption cop, finance minister, tough decision maker, and managing director she has been and remains a great friend and an inspiring mentor. This is an essential guidebook for reformers everywhere.

(Bono)

This insider's account of the valiant attempt to reform Nigeria's economy will inspire anyone committed to changing the course of their country.

(Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, 2001)

About the Author

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Nigeria's Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance. From 2007 to 2011 she was Managing Director of the World Bank, overseeing activities in South Asia, Europe, Central Asia, and Africa.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08BT9WV1Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The MIT Press (September 21, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 21, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3044 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
55 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mec
5.0 out of 5 stars How to fix a country
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2012
Verified Purchase
Okonjo-Iweala writes spare, straightforward prose about an extraordinary undertaking: reduction of corruption in a country internationally famous for it. And that's just one of her challenges. She also has to stabilize an economy dependent on volatile oil prices; develop a persuasive argument for the cancellation of foreign debt; and keep her job.

A great deal of the book is technocratic. There are few accounts of dramatic meetings or personal confrontations; heavy on the policy choices. However -- her biggest challenge is corruption. And corruption always has a beneficiary. Nigeria's larcenous class fought hard. Okonjo-Iweala does mention the political side: seeking support from the people of Nigeria and from the elected President. And she frankly acknowledges the role of politics in supporting or hindering reform.

One of the worst problems is that previous generations of international loans went to kleptocratic rulers who simply stole much of it, leaving the current government with a very difficult debt problem and little popular support for paying off the old loans or ever borrowing any more money.

The author focuses the entire book on her experiences in Nigeria. However, a great deal of the problems and solutions are universal. If your government has borrowed money that it can't pay back -- if your public payroll is bloated by decades of sweetheart deals -- if a business person can't get a loan, or can't get the permits they need, without political juice -- then you've got the same problems. May your President and your Finance Minister read this book, and may you hold them accountable for honest government.
One person found this helpful
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Omotola O.
5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful insight into the Nigerian government.
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2013
Verified Purchase
A good book, written more as an insider information of the great effort she (Dr. Ngozi) put in to make Nigeria a country she could/would be proud to call her home country, amidst chronic corruption.

I want to wish her the best of luck, she will need it.
4 people found this helpful
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dkosei2
4.0 out of 5 stars not bad
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2013
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Straight to the point and very clear eyed about her successes and failures regarding reform attempts. Also good read because its good to hear her story from her own voice instead of the infinite rumors about her tenure as finance minister
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Anthony Chiedo
5.0 out of 5 stars Every economy is reformable.
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2018
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The will power and enthusiasm demonstrated by the author in reforming Nigeria economy which yielded siginificant result.
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"Mohnblume Ha"
5.0 out of 5 stars Nigeria, land of so many secrets
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2014
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This book was a present for a male person who should learn more about the state of Nigeria being related to a Nigerian woman he met in Germany.
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Jessica Elaine Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling read
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2013
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This is an incredibly compelling story especially for a policy book. Ngozi writes from her perspective, which gives the reader some insight into how difficult the reform process was and is.
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ikenna madubuike
5.0 out of 5 stars One for the future
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2014
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Excellent read, detailed insight, and full of initiative. Wonderful work by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. All Aspiring to lead their countries should read this book.
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Peter Okoro Nwankwo Jr
4.0 out of 5 stars Good piece for other reformers
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2012
The book goes beyond the news headlines to tell the story of a nation, Nigeria, in dire need of reform and the intrigues, sabotage, and frustrations of the reformers led by Dr. Iweala. The book is a must read for any Nigerian or even Africans and others interested in Nigeria's progress.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
A must read by all Nigerians if you really want to understand the level of corruption in that country, in fact all Africans! Her 2 books should be part of the curriculum.
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Izadibabe
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
I think this is a highly informative book about high stakes Geopolitics in the complex country called Nigeria.
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Obedient O
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2013
Verified Purchase
Reforming the unreformable is a great piece of work. I have bought six copies already! The title was well chosen and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is brave to document her previous experiences in the cabinet. This shows that Nigeria requires more than prayers and policies, but a concerted effort by all to wake the sleeping giant from slumber. I am looking forward to reading the next book on what is currently happening under this current administration.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
Very technical but a great read! Especially for us future public servants. Recommend this book to everyone with a brain!!
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MojolaOluwa
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2018
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Great service. Product Ok
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