The Time-Travelling Economist

This insightful and original book explores the key issues that countries in Africa and South Asia need to address in order to escape poverty. Challenging traditional assumptions about the world’s poorest countries, the top priorities to address are identified as adult literacy, electricity for manufacturing, and the consequence of the relationship between fertility and savings.

These suggestions are placed within a historical perspective, placing discussions on modern day Africa and South Asia alongside the development of East Asia, Europe, and the Americas in previous generations and centuries.

The Time-Travelling Economist aims to move conversations about development beyond the resource curse or private sector failings, with a fresh focus on the policies that governments can embark on independently and affordably that will transform their future. It will be of interest to anyone interested in the future of the world’s low income countries.

“How come no one told me about this book before? … it is one of the best popular economics books of the last decade, and one of the best books on economic development period. People should talk about it more! And to be sure, that description ‘popular’ is misleading. Like other good books in this genre, it is deeper and better than merely being ‘popular,’ … .” (Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution, marginalrevolution.com, February 8, 2023)

“The book is the product of more than a decade of research and extensive travel across Africa and other developing countries. It is genuinely original contribution to how development can be achieved." (David Whitehouse, the africa report, theafricareport.com, June 2, 2022)


“An important warning for development institutions attempting to blindly copy the blueprints that worked so well in Central Europe to less developed countries.” (Mateusz Szczurek, Poland’s minister of finance 2013-15)

“Charlie Robertson is not only one of the most astute emerging- and frontier market economists of his time, his advice is simple, clear and evidence-based. They draw on a deep well of on-the-ground experience, true curiosity and his ability to ask the right questions. If emerging market policy makers and government leaders ignore tired ideologies and take note of the vital importance of education, electrification and family size, the world will be a better place.” (Hendrik du Toit, Founder and CEO, Ninety One)


“The emphasis on education, and proving how important this is with centuries of data, highlights why so many countries can thrive in the 21^st century after fighting the challenge of ignorance in the 20^th century. Charlie Robertson has as always uniquely and convincingly showcased the high returns you earn as individuals or society when you invest in excellent education”. (Arunma Oteh, Chairperson, Royal African Society, and Scholar University of Oxford)


“This is a hugely refreshing book. It manages to entertain while dealing with a deeply serious set of issues, it escapes many of the ideologies and fashions that weigh down many works of its type, and running through it is a deep curiosity about empirical patterns and their practical implications.” (Professor Christopher Cramer, Professor of the Political Economy of Development, SOAS, University of London, Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Johannesburg, Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS))


“An important and illuminating book that draws out vital themes in central and eastern Europe's history and Asia’s too, and how a similar focus could help many in south Asia and Africa become high income countries.” (Florin Citu, Romania's Prime Minister 2020-21) 


“Charlie's first book "The Fastest Billion: The story behind Africa's Economic Revolution" changed the African narrative. This book with its intriguing focus on three data points for powering economic growth adds a fresh perspective on how to change the continents trajectory.” (Trevor Ncube, Chairman Alpha Media Holdings (Zimbabwe) and Mail and Guardian Media (South Africa))


“Interesting new approach to low income development, highlighting why India can boom for decades” (Suresh Prabhu, India’s minister of Civil Aviation (2018-19), Commerce and Industry (2017-19), Railways (2014-17), Power (2000-2002))


“I have listened to and read several presentations by Charles Robertson. It is always amazing how much he captures his audiences' attention and leaves them in deep thought, thereafter. I am sure he will do exactly the same with this book.” (Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, Nigeria’s Minister of planning (2009-11), Minister of Finance (2007-09), deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (1999-2007))

Charlie Robertson is Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital. He is a leading emerging markets specialist, who covers the global economic themes having the greatest impact on emerging markets.