Measuring development - from the UN’s perspective

Morgan, Mary S. and Bach, Maria (2018) Measuring development - from the UN’s perspective. History of Political Economy, 50 (1). pp. 193-210. ISSN 0018-2702

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Abstract

Recipes for creating development have changed radically since the international community first thought to intervene in such historical processes soon after WWII. During this time, views about how to measure development have also changed dramatically, moving from relatively simple to relatively complex measurement systems. This paper charts these changes using both the oral interview histories and retrospective book accounts given by those involved with the UNDP, and offers an analysis of their ‘political economy of numbers’. Their move from using GNP per head to the SDGs is analysed in terms of the potential performativity of those numbers in prompting development and for creating accountability.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://read.dukeupress.edu/hope
Additional Information:	© 2018 Duke University Press
Divisions:	Economic History
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
Date Deposited:	08 Nov 2018 14:41
Last Modified:	29 Feb 2024 23:00
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/90557

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