Social Development and Public Policy

This project stressed the importance of sound social and economic policies in speedy elimination of poverty and in attaining health and educational goals. The research sought to understand the reasons behind the superior social development of some countries. For the purpose of this study, social development was defined in terms of health and education indicators and the proportion of the population living below a poverty line. Analysis was conducted at three interrelated levels: historical and political factors; amount and efficiency in use of resources for social development; and configuration of institutional arrangements. Studies were carried out in Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Kerala, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).