BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else Paperback - 2003

by Hernando de Soto

Add to wish list

From one of the most important economists in the Third World comes a revolutionary and practical plan for transforming under-performing economies, based on the forgotten history of how wealth was created in the West. Charts & tables.

Reader reviews for The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

Write a review for this book

There are no reviews for this book yet. Be the first to write a review!

Your review will be anonymous unless you login or create an account first.

Overall rating
Remember: You’re rating the book as a work, not the seller or the condition of the specific copy you purchased!

Important Terms and Guidelines

  • Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
  • Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
  • Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
  • This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.
Your review must not include:
  • Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
  • Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
  • Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
  • Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
  • Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
  • Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information

From the publisher

A renowned economist argues for the importance of property rights in "the most intelligent book yet written about the current challenge of establishing capitalism in the developing world" (Economist)

"The hour of capitalism's greatest triumph," writes Hernando de Soto, "is, in the eyes of four-fifths of humanity, its hour of crisis." In The Mystery of Capital, the world-famous Peruvian economist takes up one of the most pressing questions the world faces today: Why do some countries succeed at capitalism while others fail?
In strong opposition to the popular view that success is determined by cultural differences, de Soto finds that it actually has everything to do with the legal structure of property and property rights. Every developed nation in the world at one time went through the transformation from predominantly extralegal property arrangements, such as squatting on large estates, to a formal, unified legal property system. In the West we've forgotten that creating this system is what allowed people everywhere to leverage property into wealth. This persuasive book revolutionized our understanding of capital and points the way to a major transformation of the world economy.

First line

HASH(0x11150ad0)

Details

  • Title The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
  • Author Hernando de Soto
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 288
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Basic Books, New York, New York, U.s.a.
  • Publication date 2003-08-01
  • Features Bibliography, Index
  • ISBN 9780465016150 / 0465016154
  • Weight 0.6 lbs (0.27 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 in (20.07 x 13.46 x 2.54 cm)
  • Reading level 1460
  • Category Business / Economics / Finance
  • Library of Congress subjects Capitalism
  • Dewey Decimal Code 330.122

About the author

Hernando de Soto is President of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy (ILD), headquartered in Lima, Peru. He was named one of the five leading Latin American innovators of the century by Time magazine in its May 1999 issue on "Leaders for the New Millennium." De Soto played an integral role in the modernization of Peru's economic and political system as President Alberto Fujimori's Personal Representative and Principal Adviser.

His previous book, The Other Path, was a bestseller throughout Latin America and the U.S. He and ILD are currently working on the practical implementation of the measures for bringing the poor into the economic mainstream introduced in The Mystery of Capital. He lives in Lima, Peru.

Back to top↑

More Copies for Sale

Show all copies
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by Hernando De Soto

  • Used
  • fair
  • Paperback
Condition
Fair
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
1
Seller
Next Page Bookstore, LLC
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$5.74
A$5.38 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books, July 2003. Trade Paperback. Fair/Paperback (No jacket). Soiling spot on edge, and on a few back page edges.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$5.74
A$5.38 Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by Hernando De Soto

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
51
Seller
Book Outlet
Item price
A$7.87
A$4.30 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books. Used - Very Good. Great shape! Has a publisher remainder mark. paperback Used - Very Good 2003
Add to wish list
Item price
A$7.87
A$4.30 Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by Hernando De Soto

  • Used
  • Very good
Condition
Very good
Edition
Reprint
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
1
Seller
BooksRun
Item price
A$8.42
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books. Reprint. Very Good. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$8.42
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by Hernando De Soto

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
1
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.31
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books, 2003. Paperback. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.31
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by de Soto, Hernando

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
2
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.31
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books, 2003. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.31
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by Hernando De Soto

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
7
Seller
ThriftBooks
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$9.37
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books, 2003. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.37
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by De Soto, Hernando

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
11
Seller
Better World Books
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$10.63
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.63
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by De Soto, Hernando

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
5
Seller
Better World Books
Biblio Top Seller
Item price
A$10.63
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.63
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital : Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by De Soto, Hernando

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
3
Seller
Better World Books
Item price
A$10.63
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.63
Free Delivery to USA
The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
Stock photo: cover may vary

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else

by Hernando De Soto

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Edition
Reprint
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465016150 / 0465016154
Quantity available
1
Seller
Ergodebooks
Item price
A$13.21
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Basic Books, 2003-07-09. Reprint. paperback. Used: Good. 5.38x0.75x8.00. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$13.21
Free Delivery to USA
Show all copies
Back to top↑

Please wait a moment while we load the requested page.