Kuran is an author well-known in the circle of Islamic economists for his relentless attempts to correct certain courses of development in the discipline. Although it is not necessary to agree with him, one can learn some lessons from his writings

In the year 1000, the economy of the Middle East was at least as advanced as that of Europe. But by 1800, the region had fallen dramatically behind--in living standards, technology, and economic institutions. In short, the Middle East had failed to modernize economically as the West surged...