Social development is economic development

Nancy Birdsall

No 1123, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: The author makes four main points in this paper: (1) social development, in addition to improving human welfare directly, is an excellent investment. The hard-nosed economic fact is that it contributes to economic growth. Even a narrow interest in growth for growth's sake dictates putting your money into social development programs; (2) however, investing in social development does not guarantee growth all by itself, so those concerned with social progress cannot absent themselves from the larger debate about other aspects of economic policy in their countries; (3) moreover, making social programs work is not simple -- not politically, not technically, and not administratively; (4) still, we know from the experience of some of the poorest countries that it can be done.

Keywords: Health Monitoring&Evaluation; Primary Education; Poverty Assessment; Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems; Early Child and Children's Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1993-04-30
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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