This volume of analytical studies examines the major differences in economic performance in recent decades between the developing and developed economies. Most developing countries have lagged increasingly far behind, but this growing North-South gap has been masked by the better economic performance of China, India and the East Asian Tigers, implying the expansion of the "middle income" category. The high-profile contributors consider the dynamics of international economic growth, diverging growth rates, economic structures, and sources of demand, successes and collapses in the developing world, and recent episodes of real income stagnation of countries. Several chapters critically review recent misleading claims regarding the relationship of trade liberalization, financial development, development, aid, infrastructure spending, violent conflict, good governance, and industrial policy to economic growth.
Jomo K. S. is Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development based in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the United Nations Secretariat. José Antonio Ocampo is Under-Secretary General for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in the United Nations Secretariat. Rob Vos is Director of the Development Policy and Analysis Division at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations.