Summary |
For the past three decades, the World Bank’s annual world development report has provided a wide international readership with an extraordinary window on development economics. This essay by Shahid Yusuf-published to commemorate the report’s 30th anniversary-discusses the genesis of the publication and the topics covered by successive reports. Along the way, Yusuf takes the reader on a tour of development economics over a 30-year period, using the reports as a point of departure. In the process, Yusuf illuminates the contributions that advances in knowledge are making to the practice of development economics in key areas-including agriculture, poverty, economic growth, infrastructure, the investment climate, and the environment-and assesses how a deeper understanding of critical development issues has affected practical decision making. Five distinguished economists and development practitioners comment on the content of the essay, each offering a unique and valuable perspective and informed views, and providing grist for fruitful debate on the world development report and, more broadly, on the economics of development.
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