‘Strategies for Sustained Growth and Inclusive Development’ - CGD Report released 21 May 2008

23.05.08 As it says on the tin, this report is concerned with how economies achieve sustained economic growth. It gives an impressive account of the achievements of high-growth post-war economies in creating economic prosperity, and it sets about distilling what it is that under-developed countries (and developed countries whose growth is running out of steam) need to do in order to emulate their success. We found the report convincing as far as it goes, but as we read it we began to sense the presence of an elephant in the room. While economic growth irrefutably generates prosperity, it also fuels the use of global resources, which raises a basic question about the sustainability or otherwise of global economic growth. Rather than present this as a conundrum, the report jumps quickly to the conclusion that growth is the right answer, and treats the limits to growth as obstacles, to be overcome by technological ingenuity and other means. We found this made the report one-dimensional, and it made us feel that headlines like the Guardian's Choose growth or accept poverty for billions overstate the degree to which the this choice was really examined by the authors. Read Strategies for Sustained Growth and Inclusive Development (Commission on Growth and Development 2008) and let us know your view on it, or on our reaction to it. See All News