The study presents archival evidence to show how President Kaunda raised political and economic exclusivity in Zambia in the early years of Zambia's independence, and how this retarded capital investment. Despite formal reforms and a new government, this institutional mechanism still dominates and constrains Zambia's political economy today.
"The strength of this book is that it aims to shift the focus from Zambia's economic troubles away from forces outside its control ... . this is a well-researched and valuable book. With a dense bibliography and a clearly organized format, this book is heavily recommended for scholars of African economic development and others interested in the mechanisms behind economic growth." (Craig J. Richardson, EH.Net, March, 2016)