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23 Kuznets, ‘National income’, p. 209.

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28 Morgan, ‘Seeking parts’, pp. 28 and 32.

29 On Stone, see M. Hashem Pesaran and G. C. Harcourt, ‘Life and work of John Richard Nicholas Stone 1913–1991’, Economic Journal, 110, 461, 2000, pp. F146–65; Flavio Comim, ‘Richard Stone and measurement criteria for national accounts’, in Klein and Morgan, The age, pp. 213–34.

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31 Here, theoretical propositions by Karl Polanyi met empirical substance: Karl Polanyi, ‘The economy as instituted process’, in Karl Polanyi, Conrad M. Arensberg, and Harry W. Pearson, eds., Trade and market in the early empires: economies in history and theory, Trade and market in the early empires: economies in history and theory: Free Press, 1957, pp. 243–69. A ‘substantivist’ position was proposed by, for example, George Dalton, ‘Economic theory and primitive society’, American Anthropologist, American Anthropologist: foundations of economic anthropology, Boulder, CO: Westview, 1996.

32 C. J. Martin, ‘The development and diversity of national income series in East Africa since 1947’, in Samuels, L. H., ed., African studies in income and wealth, African studies in income and wealth: Quadrangle Books, 1963, pp. 333–49Google Scholar.

33 T. A. Kennedy, H. W. Ord, and David Walker, ‘On the calculation and interpretation of national accounting material in East Africa’, in Samuels, African studies, p. 393.

34 William O. Jones, ‘Colonial social accounting’, Journal of the American Statistical Association, 50, 271, 1955, p. 665.

35 Dudley Seers, ‘The role of national income estimates in the statistical policy of an under-developed area’, Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies: problems of the developing countries: essays in honour of H. W. Singer, London: Macmillan, 1976, pp. 193–210.

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37 Lewis, W. Arthur, The theory of economic growth, The theory of economic growth: Allen & Unwin, 1955, p. 202Google Scholar.

38 United Nations Statistical Office, A system of national accounts and supporting tables, A system of national accounts and supporting tables: United Nations, 1953.

39 Seers, ‘Role’, p. 160.

40 S. Herbert Frankel, ‘United Nations primer for development: reply’, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 67, 2, 1953, pp. 280–5; P. T. Bauer, ‘The United Nations report on the economic development of under-developed countries’, Economic Journal, 63, 249, 1953, pp. 210–22.

41 Richard Stone, quoted in Milton Gilbert, ‘The measurement of national wealth: discussion’, Econometrica, 17, 1949, p. 261.

42 Goethe, Johann Wolfgang, The sorcerer’s apprentice, The sorcerer’s apprentice: 100 poems in new translations, Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1955Google Scholar.

43 Smithies, quoted in Gilbert, ‘Measurement’, p. 269.

44 Milton Gilbert, ed., Income and wealth, Income and wealth: Bowes & Bowes, 1953; Samuels, African studies.

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46 Charles I. Jones, Introduction to economic growth, Introduction to economic growth: Norton, 2002. The topic has become ‘hot’ again with the global economic crisis of 2008–09. See Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, and Jean-Paul Fitoussi, Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress: Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi-Commission, 2009.

47 Kuznets sharply criticized Colin Clark’s comparison between Chinese and US economic performance: Simon Kuznets, ‘National income and industrial structure’, Econometrica, Econometrica: reflections on their causes’, Economic Development and Cultural Change, 2, 1, 1953, pp. 3–26. A series of voluminous studies on ‘Quantitiative aspects of economic growth’ followed in the same journal between 1956 and 1964.

48 For the notion of epistemic spaces, see Hans-Jörg Rheinberger, Toward a history of epistemic things: synthesizing proteins in the test tube, Toward a history of epistemic things: synthesizing proteins in the test tube: Stanford University Press, 1997.

49 A typical example for a comparative study taking Mexican performance as a benchmark for Africa is G. J. Ligthart and B. Abbai, ‘Economic development in Africa: aims and possibilities’, in Robinson, Austin G., ed., Economic development for Africa, south of the Sahara, Economic development for Africa, south of the Sahara: Macmillan, 1964, pp. 3–47CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

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51 Angus Maddison, Contours of the world economy, 1–2030 AD: essays in macro-economic history, Contours of the world economy, 1–2030 AD: essays in macro-economic history: Oxford University Press, 2007.

52 The problem has been discussed for population statistics in Libby Schweber, Disciplining statistics. Demography and vital statistics in France and England, 1830–1885, Disciplining statistics. Demography and vital statistics in France and England, 1830–1885: Duke University Press, 2006.

53 Alain Desrosières, ‘Managing the economy’, in Porter, Theodore M. and Ross, Dorothy, eds., The modern social sciences, The modern social sciences: Cambridge University Press, 2003, pp. 553–64, here p. 560Google Scholar.

54 Stuart Hall, ‘The West and the rest’, in Stuart Hall and Bram Gieben, eds., Formations of modernity, Formations of modernity: Polity Press, pp. 275–320.

55 See Bradley R. Simpson, Economists with guns: authoritarian development and US–Indonesian relations, 1960–1968, Economists with guns: authoritarian development and US–Indonesian relations, 1960–1968: Stanford University Press, 2008.

56 On civilizing missions, see Boris Barth and Jürgen Osterhammel, eds., Zivilisierungsmissionen: imperiale Weltverbesserung seit dem 18. Jahrhundert, Zivilisierungsmissionen: imperiale Weltverbesserung seit dem 18. Jahrhundert: UVK Verlagsgesellschaft, 2005.

57 Keynes, John Maynard, How to pay for the war, How to pay for the war: Macmillan, 1940Google Scholar; Angus Maddison, ‘Quantifying and interpreting world development: macromeasurement before and after Colin Clark’, Australian Economic History Review, 44, 1, 2004, pp. 1–34.

58 On the relationship between economic theory and operations research during the Second World War, see Philip Mirowski, ‘Cyborg agonistes: economics meets operations research in mid-century’, Social Studies of Science, 29, 5, 1999, pp. 685–718.

59 Keynes, John Maynard, The general theory of employment, interest and money, The general theory of employment, interest and money: Macmillan, 1936Google Scholar. For Keynes’ international impact, see Peter A. Hall, ed., The political power of economic ideas: Keynesianism across nations, The political power of economic ideas: Keynesianism across nations: Princeton University Press, 1989.

60 Harrod, Roy, The life of John Maynard Keynes, The life of John Maynard Keynes: Macmillan, 1951, pp. 501ffGoogle Scholar.

61 Germany went a ‘Sonderweg’. Early attempts at professionalizing macroeconomic statistics fell victim to the dynamics of a polycentric state administration in 1936. See J. Adam Tooze, Statistics and the German state, 1900–1945: the making of modern economic knowledge, Statistics and the German state, 1900–1945: the making of modern economic knowledge: Cambridge University Press, 2001, ch. 6. After 1945, German national accounting had to regain plausibility. On West Germany, see Alexander Nützenadel, Stunde der Ökonomen: Wissenschaft, Politik und Expertenkultur in der Bundesrepublik 1949–1974, Stunde der Ökonomen: Wissenschaft, Politik und Expertenkultur in der Bundesrepublik 1949–1974: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2005. Most local experiences in national income accounting have been registered by Studenski, Income of nations.

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63 Boumans, Marcel, How economists model the world into numbers, How economists model the world into numbers: Routledge, 2005CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

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65 James, Harold, International monetary cooperation since Bretton Woods, International monetary cooperation since Bretton Woods: IMF, 1996Google Scholar.

66 Truman promised to the world ‘a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas’. Dennis Merrill, ed., The Point Four Program: reaching out to help the less developed countries, The Point Four Program: reaching out to help the less developed countries: University Publications of America, 1999, pp. 4–5. On Truman see generally Elizabeth Edwards Spalding, The first Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, containment, and the remaking of liberal internationalism, The first Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, containment, and the remaking of liberal internationalism: University Press of Kentucky, 2006.

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69 United Nations Department of Economic Affairs, Economic report: salient features of the world economic situation 1945–47, Economic report: salient features of the world economic situation 1945–47: United Nations, 1948, p. 243.

70 Staffan Müller-Wille, ‘Race et appartenance ethnique: la diversité humaine et l’UNESCO Déclarations sur la race (1950 et 1951)’, in UNESCO, 60 ans d’histoire de l’UNESCO, Actes du colloque international, Paris, 16–18 novembre 2005, 60 ans d’histoire de l’UNESCO, Actes du colloque international, Paris, 16–18 novembre 2005: UNESCO, pp. 211–20.

71 Kuznets, ‘International differences’, p. 10.

72 See e.g. Hugh L. Keenleyside, International aid: a summary: with special reference to the programmes of the United Nations, International aid: a summary: with special reference to the programmes of the United Nations: James H. Heineman, 1966, p. 37ff.

73 Trygve Lie, ‘Opening statement at first UN Technical Assistance Conference’, in Andrew W. Cordier and Wilder Foote, eds., Public papers of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations, 1: Trygve Lie 1946–1953, Public papers of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations, 1: Trygve Lie 1946–1953: Columbia University Press, 1969, p. 311.

74 Frederick Cooper, ‘Modernizing bureaucrats, backward Africans, and the development concept’, in Frederick Cooper and Randall Packard, eds., International development and the social sciences: essays on the history and politics of knowledge, International development and the social sciences: essays on the history and politics of knowledge: California University Press, 1997, pp. 64–92.

75 Dietmar Rothermund, ‘Indien: von der Planwirtschaft zur Liberalisierung’, in Wolfram Fischer, ed., Lebensstandard und Wirtschaftssysteme: Studien im Auftrage des Wissenschaftsfonds der DG Bank, Lebensstandard und Wirtschaftssysteme: Studien im Auftrage des Wissenschaftsfonds der DG Bank: Fritz Knapp, 1995, pp. 501–42.

76 Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, The approach of operational research to planning in India, The approach of operational research to planning in India: Statistical Publishing Society, 1955; C. R. Rao, ‘Prasantha Chandra Mahalanobis 1893–1972’, Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society: Oxford University Press, 2002.

77 Tom Mboya, ‘Tensions in African development’, in Tom Mboya, ed., The challenge of nationhood: a collection of speeches and writings, The challenge of nationhood: a collection of speeches and writings: Heinemann, 1970, pp. 24–33; B. T. G. Chidzero, ‘The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’, African Studies Bulletin, 6, 2, 1963, pp. 1–5.

78 Tignor, Robert L., W. Arthur Lewis and the birth of development economics, W. Arthur Lewis and the birth of development economics: Princeton University Press, 2006, chs. 4, 5, and 6Google Scholar; Murphy, Craig N., The United Nations Development Programme: a better way?, The United Nations Development Programme: a better way?: Cambridge University Press, 2006, ch. 5CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

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80 Gray, Clive S., Inside independent Nigeria: diaries of Wolfang Stolper, 1960–1962, Inside independent Nigeria: diaries of Wolfang Stolper, 1960–1962: Ashgate, 2003Google Scholar; Mary Morgan, ‘“On a mission” with mutable mobiles’, Working papers on the nature of evidence: how well do ‘facts’ travel?, 34, 2008, Department of Economic History, London School of Economics, http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/22500/1/3408Morgan.pdf (consulted 9 December 2010).

81 Adebayo Adedeji, ‘The ECA: forging a future for Africa’, in Yves Berthelot, ed., Unity and diversity in development ideas: perspectives from the UN Regional Commissions, Unity and diversity in development ideas: perspectives from the UN Regional Commissions: Indiana University Press, 2003), pp. 233–306; Bahgat El-Tawil, ‘Statistical activities of the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa’, Journal of Modern African Studies, 3, 3, 1965, pp. 437–9.

82 Chidzero, ‘United Nations Economic Commission’.

83 Richard M. Barkay, ‘The statistical macro-economic framework needed in development planning in Africa’, in Samuels, African Studies, p. 85. I thank Mary S. Morgan for bringing this quote to my attention.

84 Jackson, Robert H., Quasi-States: sovereignty, international relations, and the Third World, Quasi-States: sovereignty, international relations, and the Third World: Cambridge University Press, 1990Google Scholar; Badie, Bertrand, L’état importé: essai sur l’occidentalisation de l’ordre politique, L’état importé: essai sur l’occidentalisation de l’ordre politique: Fayard, 1992Google Scholar.

85 Frederick Cooper, ‘The dialectics of decolonization: nationalism and labour movements in post-war French Africa’, in Frederick Cooper and Laura Ann Stoler, eds., Tensions of empire: colonial cultures in a bourgeois world, Tensions of empire: colonial cultures in a bourgeois world: University of California Press, 1997, pp. 406–35; Daniel Speich, ‘The Kenyan style of “African socialism”: developmental knowledge claims and the explanatory limits of the Cold War’, Diplomatic History, 33, 3, 2009, pp. 449–66.

86 Peter J. Boettke, ed., The collapse of development planning, The collapse of development planning: New York University Press, 1994.

87 It is interesting to note that these benchmarks created an incentive for underdeveloped countries to keep their official national income figures low: Vernon, ‘Politics’, p. 65.

88 Carl E. Pletsch, ‘The three worlds, or the division of social scientific labor, circa 1950–1975’, Comparative Studies in Society and History, 23, 4, 1981, pp. 565–90.

89 Mary Morgan, ‘Perspective: making measuring instruments’, in Klein and Morgan, The age, pp. 235–51.

90 The limitations of national sovereignty in the postcolonial world order are analysed in Antony Anghie, Imperialism, sovereignty and the making of international law, Imperialism, sovereignty and the making of international law: Cambridge University Press, 2004.