Economic Development (8th Edition) (ISBN 0201770512)

Not really much economics:
While Michael Todaro's text is widely used, as another reviewer points out, it is as much political "science" and sociology as economics. I am an economics professor and I have taught Economic Development courses from this text and had to repeatedly bring the perspective of neo-classical economics which was lacking or misconstrued. This text is closer to neo-Marxist than neo-classical. If you wish to gain the insights of economics, I would recommend "The Elusive Quest for Growth : Economists' Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics" by William Easterly.

Accessible and Comprehensive:
The greatest problem facing economists today (I should say "facing the world today") is how to create wealth in the poorest countries of the world. This introduction to the subject is accessible to any reader, even those with very limited previous knowledge of economics. The book begins with a critical summary of current development theories and then takes on a number of policy questions, with case studies. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and the publisher maintains a web site with useful quantitative and graphing exercises (with answers). Michael Todaro writes from a left-of-center perspective and is more ideological than most textbook writers. However, he presents other points of view and presents them pretty fairly in my opinion. And I have to say that he scores some pretty big points against the neoclassical theorists by showing that their assumptions are frequently at odds with reality. While some of Todaro's more stridently ideological statements can be annoying, I know of no other book that provides such a comprehensive, well organized, and engagingly written introduction to economic development.

Very illuminating:
This book talks about many issues on economic development, and it also includes alternative approaches. You do not have to be a economics major to understand that book.

Gives meaning to "development" ...... 5++:
Todaro and Smith cover the major issues and influences of poverty in the third world, as we know it today. With development having many different meanings and underdevelopment been a concept that many theories, especially economic ones, ignore, this book is exceptional in its analysis of the third world and the need for development, both economically and socially; the role of women and children in poverty is raised and discussed, as the important issue that it is, .... and more than often is ignored AND possible solutions to underdevelopment are suggested. Additionally, much emphasis is placed on specific country examples, which are extremely interesting and useful from a study point of view, and Todaro and Smith further the cause for underdevelopment issues with their key characteristics of development. An excellent resource for students, or anyone else, interested in development issues ..... 5+++.

Expensive--and worth every penny:
I was horrified to see how much this book cost when I started my Development Economics course. Now I'm very glad I bought it. The writing is very good: it's dense, clear, and accurate. It clearly presents the economic models of the most referenced development economists. It places them in context and critiques them. I was so pleased with this book (and the subject) that I went on to pursue an MA with a focus on development economics. Textbooks that can change your life are few--this ranks among them.