Elsevier

World Development

Volume 25, Issue 5, May 1997, Pages 631-638
World Development

Good and bad growth: The human development reports

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(96)00141-6Get rights and content

Abstract

The 1996 Human Development Report (UNDP, 1996) is about economic growth and human development. In keeping with past reports in the series, it emphasizes the diversity of country performance in improving “human development indicators” at given rates of growth. This article reviews what the Human Development Reports have said on this topic, looking at how well the main messages have been supported by data and analysis, and how compelling they are as a basis for public action.

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For their comments on this paper, the author is grateful to Michael Bruno, Bill Easterly, Jeff Hammer, Manny Jimenez, Peter Lanjouw, Lyn Squire, T.N. Srinivasan. Jacques van der Gaag, Dominique van de Walle, and the journal's three anonymous referees. These are the views of the author, and should not be attributed to the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent.

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