Introduction

Abstract

More than 4 billion people now inhabit the earth, and a majority live under conditions that make low-income groups in the United States seem wealthy by comparison. Most of us have seen, on television, the human suffering associated with malnutrition, hunger, and the lack of opportunity for individual or community advancement in some developing countries. Many seem to think that these conditions are inevitable in the early stages of development but gradually will improve as economic growth occurs and yields benefits that will “trickle down” to the poor. In the short run, they may conclude, there is little that can be done to alleviate world poverty, especially in areas such as South Asia and Africa which seem remote and plagued by problems that are too big and complex to solve.