Michael Lipton's book "Urban Bias in World Development" is a significant work that explores the root causes of rural poverty and underdevelopment. Lipton argues that the rural sector, particularly small-scale farming, has been systematically disadvantaged and exploited in the allocation of resources, both public and private, at national and international levels, favoring the urban sector. He contends that the primary class struggle in poor countries is between urban and rural classes, not between capital and labor or between foreign and national interests. Although Lipton lacks extensive empirical evidence for his thesis, it is plausible given the extent of inequality, resource transfers, and unequal resource allocation he documents. Unlike classical and Marxist economics, which focus on the transfer of resources from agriculture to industry, Lipton emphasizes the development of agriculture as a prerequisite for overall societal development. He argues that investments in agriculture are not only socially desirable but also economically efficient. Lipton proposes middle-term strategies to overcome "urban bias," emphasizing system-immanent solutions. While some of his ideas are practical, further reflection is needed on others, such as encouraging urban capital investment in agriculture. The book is engaging but not always easy to read and is a must-read for development scholars and practitioners. Brian Loveman's book "Struggle in the Countryside" examines the conflicts between the state, landowners, and rural workers in Chile from 1919 to 1973. It focuses on the role of labor laws in shaping rural class relations and the influence of rural worker unions and political parties in preparing for the transformation of the rural sector.Michael Lipton's book "Urban Bias in World Development" is a significant work that explores the root causes of rural poverty and underdevelopment. Lipton argues that the rural sector, particularly small-scale farming, has been systematically disadvantaged and exploited in the allocation of resources, both public and private, at national and international levels, favoring the urban sector. He contends that the primary class struggle in poor countries is between urban and rural classes, not between capital and labor or between foreign and national interests. Although Lipton lacks extensive empirical evidence for his thesis, it is plausible given the extent of inequality, resource transfers, and unequal resource allocation he documents. Unlike classical and Marxist economics, which focus on the transfer of resources from agriculture to industry, Lipton emphasizes the development of agriculture as a prerequisite for overall societal development. He argues that investments in agriculture are not only socially desirable but also economically efficient. Lipton proposes middle-term strategies to overcome "urban bias," emphasizing system-immanent solutions. While some of his ideas are practical, further reflection is needed on others, such as encouraging urban capital investment in agriculture. The book is engaging but not always easy to read and is a must-read for development scholars and practitioners. Brian Loveman's book "Struggle in the Countryside" examines the conflicts between the state, landowners, and rural workers in Chile from 1919 to 1973. It focuses on the role of labor laws in shaping rural class relations and the influence of rural worker unions and political parties in preparing for the transformation of the rural sector.