Tropical Gangsters: Development and Decadence in Deepest Africa

In this ironically titled volume, economist Klitgaard ( Controlling Corruption ) presents a brilliant analysis of a financially devastated West African country, Equatorial Guinea, where from 1986-1989 he assisted the government as part of a project funded by the World Bank. Still recovering from the 1968-1979 regime of monstrous dictator Macias who killed or drove into exile almost a third of the country's population, the nation of under a half million apparently has a major asset in its earnest President Obiang. Unfortunately, it also suffers from corrupt officials and victimization by European capitalists and ``experts'' interested primarily in junketing. Although Klitgaard examines Equatorial Guinea's finances in detail, this is primarily a warm and affectionate memoir about the country and its people. (Sept.)