Breaking monopolies, technological innovation, patent protections, and inclusive political and economic institutions are four keys to economic development, James A. Robinson

Breaking monopolies, technological innovation, patent protections, and inclusive political and economic institutions are four keys to economic development, James A. Robinson, University of Chicago public policy professor and co-author of ‘Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty,’ told a Kyiv School of Economics audience. Asked by the UBN if Ukraine is a ‘failed or failing state,’ he answered: “Ukraine is definitely not a failed state. Ukraine has been going in the right direction. There has been enormous progress in the last four years. Going ahead, there are a lot of challenges, but I don’t think Ukraine is in any way a failed state.” Robinson, who was here to launch the Ukrainian translation of his book, added: “There is absolutely no reason why Ukraine could not have the same standard of living of the UK, Canada, the US.”