The only text in the field designed specifically for advanced undergraduates – Charles I. Jones explains in clear, direct language how economists have come to understand the long-run growth of economies, beginning with empirical evidence – how rich are the rich countries, how poor are the poor, and how fast do the rich and poor countries grow? The author then presents the major theories of economic growth, from the Nobel prize-winning work of Robert Solow to the new growth theory that has ignited the field in recent years.