Books in the WIDER Studies in Development Economics series

Since the end of the Cold War, civil wars in developing countries have escalated to become the most significant source of human suffering in the world today. This is an overview of the nature and causes of the emergencies, including economic, political, and environmental factors.

This book deals with the importance of industrialization and the development of manufacturing in the economic development process. It focuses specifically on new challenges such as global value chains, the rise of China, climate change, and the role of state versus private sector entrepreneurs in forging appropriate industrial policies.

The volume explores how the Southern Engines, China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are reshaping the world economy. It looks at their development experiences, and examines how these could provide useful lessons to the developing world.

This volume examines how foreign aid has influenced democratic transitions and consolidation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Elites play a crucial role in the development process. The impact they have on growth and development exceeds their representation within a country. This volume uses case studies from South Africa to China to seek an understanding of the relationship between elites and economic development.

This volume presents a set of studies of the role of environmental resources in the development process. Contributors address the problems connected with the management of local common property resources, such as soil, water, forests and their products, and animals and fisheries.

While the economic growth renaissance in sub-Saharan Africa is widely recognized, much less is known about progress in living conditions. This book comprehensively evaluates trends in living conditions in 16 major sub-Saharan African countries, corresponding to nearly 75% of the total population.

Elites play a crucial role in the development process. The impact they have on growth and development exceeds their representation within a country. This volume uses case studies from South Africa to China to seek an understanding of the relationship between elites and economic development.

The term 'social security' has a very different meaning in under-developed countries and is best understood as poverty alleviation. This book attempts to define social security in the Third World and to explore what programmes are most suitable. Western systems are compared and social security provisions in the Third World are examined.

Fragile states are often mired in civil conflict. This volume focuses on the relationship between conflict and state stability and illustrates the causes and effects of fragile states on neighbouring countries and the global community.

This text focuses on group behaviour in developing countries. It includes studies of producer and community organizations, NGOs and some public sector groups. Some groups function well, from the perspectives of equity, efficiency and well-being, while others do not. This book explores why, examining modes of group behaviour and their consequences.

An introduction to an area of growing analytical and policy importance: spatial and regional inequality, which can create tension and instability in developing and transition economies. Drawing on data from 25 countries from around the world, it answers the following key questions: What exactly is spatial inequality? Why does it matter?

This book addresses three questions: Why is there so little industry in Africa? Does it matter? And, what can be done about it?

This book examines the complex relationship between technological innovation and economic growth in developing countries. It analyses why some countries have improved living standards whilst others fail to make material progress. It looks at different types of entrepreneurship and how reforms can allow firms to become more innovative and dynamic.

An edited collection on foreign aid that addresses important aid questions, and reviews the shifting aid landscape in light of the recent global financial crisis. The volume reviews the progress achieved so far, identifies the challenges ahead, and discusses the emerging policy agenda in foreign aid.

Here, contributors provide a set of studies of emerging development issues, ranging from foundational matters to case studies. They address issues on the role of environmental resources in the development process, presenting explanations of existing situations and policies for the future.

This two-volume work examines the causes of civil war and consequent humanitarian emergencies in developing countries. Twenty-three international experts explain why wars start and how to prevent them -- offering a less costly alternative to the present reactive strategy.

This volume presents a set of studies of the role of environmental resources in the development process. Contributors address the problems connected with the management of local common property resources, such as soil, water, forests and their products, and animals and fisheries.

This volume uses thirteen case studies to analyze the impact of economic globalization on poverty and inequality in different regions of the developing world.

The three volumes of the original work have been merged and edited to produce an abridged paperback that will be useful for students. The papers address a wide range of issues centred around solutions to the problems of international hunger and deprivation.

This is a collection of papers examining the issue of increasing inequality in the distribution of income in developing countries. Growth, Inequality and Poverty comprises many of the most important contributions to the debate.

Contributors provide a set of authoritative studies of emerging development issues. This text addresses both analytic and empirical issues on the role of environmental resources in the development process, presenting explanations of existing situations and policies for the future.

This volume looks beyond the distribution of income by examining the assets, debts, and net worth of individuals and households to create a global picture of wealth, its distribution and concentration. Unlike previous studies, this study includes material on a number of transition and developing countries as well as high income OECD countries.

This volume brings together a significant new collection of studies on formality and informality in developing countries. Containing contributions from some of the very best analysts in development studies, the volume is multidisciplinary in nature, with contributions from anthropologists, economists, sociologists, and political scientists.

India is a country of great diversity. This volume of essays reflects an attempt to draw lessons from the disparate experiences within India, rather than from contrasts with the experiences of other countries. A general overview precedes detailed studies of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal.

Part of a major report on world hunger instigated by the World Institute for Development Economics Research, this volume deals with possible solutions to the problem of regular outbreaks of famine in various parts of the world.