World Development Report 2003

Since 1978, the World Bank has been publishing annual development reports that serve as an authoritative source for unique economic and political data. Each year's report focuses on a key development issues; past topics have included the interplay between human health and economic development (1993), the importance of knowledge to development (1998), globalization and localization (1999) and building institutions to support the development of markets (2002). Next year's report...
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Since 1978, the World Bank has been publishing annual development reports that serve as an authoritative source for unique economic and political data. Each year's report focuses on a key development issues; past topics have included the interplay between human health and economic development (1993), the importance of knowledge to development (1998), globalization and localization (1999) and building institutions to support the development of markets (2002). Next year's report willfocus on development of human, natural, and environmental capital. This year's World Development Report addresses how to lift from poverty the three million people now living in severe deprivation. It also explores how to improve the quality of life for everybody today and for the two billion morewho will join mankind in the next 30 years. Substantial increases in growth and productivity will be necessary to achieve this goal. The current scale of economic activity and speed of change is such that ecosystems and social structures cannot keep up. The Report puts forth two main messages: First, enhancing prosperity and reducing poverty requires better care of the planet's ecosystem and social fabric. And second, stronger collective action at all levels--from local to global--is essential for generating and scaling up institutions that can transform growth.