Nation Building, State Building and Economic Development : Case Studies and Comparisons, Paperback by Paine, S. C. M. (EDT), ISBN 0765622459, ISBN-13 9780765622457, Brand New, Free shipping in the US Why do some countries remain poor and dysfunctional while others thrive and become affluent? This title identifies reasons why prosperity has increased in some countries but not others by constructing and comparing cases that focus on the processes of nation building, state building, and economic development in comparably situated countries.