The wealth and poverty of nations
by David S. Landes

This book explains the modernity hypothesis. Landes argues that the gap between rich and poor countries in the world started to exist during the industrial revolution. Whereas certain countries were able to adjust their societies to the modern age, others were not. According to Landes, this is due to a nation’s culture more than geography, climate or other nation specific aspects.

The End of Poverty. Economic Possibilities for Our Time
by Jeffrey Sachs

A professor of economics passionately argues in favour of drastically increasing the development aid budget.
The rich countries should help the poor to enable them to help themselves, in the first place through providing cheap money for good (national) plans and (local) initiatives.

The White Man’s Burden. Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good.
by William Easterly

A professor of economics pens an informed and excoriating attack on the tragic waste, futility, and hubris of the West’s efforts to improve the lot of the so-called developing world, and provides constructive suggestions on how to move forward. The poor should help themselves through entrepreneurship.

The Bottom Billion. Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it.
by Paul Collier

The world’s poorest people live on less than a dollar a day and this bottom billion is left further and further behind. A professor of economics pinpoints the issues of corruption, political instability, dependence on the export of natural resources and lack of good governance that trap the poorest countries into a downward spiral of economic and social decline. He puts forward a radical new plan of action including more effective anti-corruption measures, preferential trade policies and where necessary direct military intervention.

Message: the rich countries should contribute to political stability, good governance and economic security in the poor countries so that people can help themselves.