Development, poverty, and basic human needs: some issues
Srinivasan, T.N.
Food Research Institute Studies 16(2): 11-28
1977
Document Number: 406002
In the early 1960s doubts began to be expressed as to whether growth in national income in developing countries achieved in the 1950s had actually benefitted the poor in these countries. Increasing disenchantment with the results of earlier policy led to a fundamental re-direction of development strategy, towards a rural strategy focusing on increasing the productivity of the small farmer and self employed through an integrated programme providing better access to land, water, credit, markets, social and other facilities and an urban strategy more responsive to the opportunity cost of labour and capital. The paper examines the extent to which the development performance of India, Taiwan, Korea and some other major developing countries would comply with such new conceptions of development which involve providing the whole population with a set of minimum basic needs including food, fuel, clothing, shelter, health, sanitation, safe drinking water, education and opportunities for productive employment. It draws on both analytical studies and actual experience in various countries including especially the papers and discussions at a World Bank Workshop on 'Analyses of distributional issues in development planning' held in Bellagio in Italy in April 1977.