This book is the first comprehensive account of how australia attained the worlds highest living standards within a few decades of european settlement and how the nation has sustained an enviable level of income to the present beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century the book argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was . Why australia prospered is a fascinating historical examination of how australia cultivated and sustained economic growth and success beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century ian mclean argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was reached and maintained by several shifting factors these included imperial policies . Why australia prospered the shifting sources of economic growth the princeton economic history of the western world by ian w mclean 2012 11 11 ian w mclean books amazonca. Why australia prospered the shifting sources of economic growth the princeton economic history of the western world book 43 ebook mclean ian w amazonca kindle store. Why australia prospered is a fascinating historical examination of how australia cultivated and sustained economic growth and success beginning with the aboriginal economy at the end of the eighteenth century ian mclean argues that australias remarkable prosperity across nearly two centuries was reached and maintained by several shifting factors these included imperial policies