Described as a lone voice in the wilderness, Lord Bauer wrote books which challenged the myth that poverty is self-perpetuating, and he also demonstrated that third world countries are not immune to wealth accumulation. Writing on one of the popularly notions on the cycle of poverty, Bauer noted "Throughout history innumerable individuals, families, groups, societies, and countries - both in West and the Third World - have moved from poverty to prosperity without external donations. All developed countries began as underdeveloped. If the notion of the vicious circle were valid, mankind would still be in the Stone Age at best".
