Human Development In South Asia 2000

This third report on human development in South Asia presents a comprehensive profile of education in the region, analyses current educational policies and programmes, and presents a five-year plan to achieve universal primary education in the area.

The Report presents an analysis of the diffusion and adoption of technology, particularly ICT in the region and its impact on overall economic growth, employment, poverty reduction, as well the provision of health and education services in the region. The report draws from several interesting case studies particularly from India and Bangladesh that illustrate how ICT is being used innovatively to improve the efficiency and transparency in the delivery of public services. The Report however reiterates that technology by itself does not result in wonders. It has to be accompanied with an educated and skilled population as well as basic infrastructure.

Human capital is an important factor for economic growth in South Asia. Between 1981 and 2010, human capital contributed about 22% of annual gross domestic product per worker growth in India. During the same period, it contributed around 21% in Bangladesh, and 16% in Sri Lanka. However, education and skills remain the binding constraint. Raising the quality of education and skills in South Asia's workforce can play a critical role in catching up to the level of development of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and other successful Southeast Asian economies. This study reviews the development of human capital in South Asia and analyzes contributing factors to human development including policies and strategies that countries in South Asia follow.

South Asia's developing nations have been enjoying moderate to high growth over the past decade before the global recession began. This new edition provides an up-to-date guide to the growing markets in South Asia. It offers an analysis of the changes and consequences of high sustainable growth, investigating what has been achieved in the region during the last ten years from a macroeconomic viewpoint, identifying new challenges and clearly defining what has driven the boom. The first part of the textbook presents an analysis of how South Asia is rated against Southeast and East Asia in recent decades in economic and social terms. The second part of the text focuses on South Asia's economic development over 1990s and mid-2000s, and the third and final part identifies those major governance issues, which were responsible for South Asia's underperformance both socially and economically. It is widely recognised that globalisation enhanced global trade, and that trade further increased the region’s prosperity. Embracing the view that economists can no longer regard themselves as technocratic guardians of neutral policy advice, the book advocates for a shift in focus from policy reform per se to the more challenging task of implementing institutional reform that will invigorate the capability of the political leadership to bring about rapid, sustained and poverty-reducing growth in South Asia. The central task would be to re-direct the focus of governments in South Asia in order to ensure that the core functions of the state stable, non-distortionary policy climate, a secure foundation of law, investment in basic education, health and infrastructure, protection of the vulnerable and adapting with the climate change are efficiently provided. At the same time, the reform agenda must be sensitive to the goal of ensuring that durable democratic institutions, traditions and values are preserved. This is a fundamental challenge, but one that must be met in order to secure the emergence of a prosperous South Asia in the early part of the twenty-first century. This textbook will be useful for students and researchers in Development Economics, Business Economics, Development Studies and Asian Studies.

Assesses the extent and performance of agriculture on economic growth and human development. Covers changes in the period 1980-2000.