Authoritarian growth refers to economic growth that occurs under authoritarian or dictatorial regimes. In the work, this term is used to critique the notion that authoritarianism is a viable long-term strategy for economic development. The book argues that while such regimes may experience short-term growth, they are unlikely to sustain it due to the absence of creative destruction and innovation, both crucial for long-term economic success.

Conditional aid is a form of foreign assistance that requires the recipient country to meet certain predefined criteria or conditions. The work discusses the limitations of conditional aid, arguing that it often fails to bring about meaningful institutional change due to the deeply rooted nature of extractive institutions.

Creative destruction is a key economic concept that describes how new innovations replace outdated technologies and ideas, leading to economic progress. Throughout the work, creative destruction is portrayed as a process essential for sustained economic growth and as a process often hindered in extractive economic systems, where existing elites may resist innovations that threaten their power.