Lewis, Sir W. Arthur

Lewis, Sir W. Arthur

(1915–90) a West Indian economist who contributed to the theory of ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and whose seminal text is The Theory of Economic Growth (1955). He argued that although growth can bring positive benefits in improving living standards in DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, it can also disrupt those countries’ cultures, especially where growth is too rapid. Lewis emphasized the importance of economic infrastructure in developing countries and stressed the need for such social overhead capital as transport networks, communications systems and educational facilities as prerequisites for growth.

Collins Dictionary of Economics, 4th ed. © C. Pass, B. Lowes, L. Davies 2005