Global Development Network: Global Research Projects

GDNet supports southern researchers to contribute and debate ideas in development thinking, policy and practice.

Explaining Growth
Generating, sharing, and applying to policy multidisciplinary knowledge for the purpose of development

1 January 2000
Status: Completed
Duration: 5 years

Launched in 2000, this project aimed to explain the growth experiences of six regions in the developing and transition world - East Asia, South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Involving over 200 researchers, 'Explaining Growth' is the most comprehensive assessment of growth in the developing and transition countries ever to be compiled. Researchers examined the complex nature of growth: its stimulants, constraints, benefits and pitfalls. They moved away from seeing economic growth as the ultimate measure of wellbeing towards a view that growth provides the opportunity to use resources well. There exist many paths towards growth - some leading to dead-ends while others to sustainable prosperity for all.

Phase I of the project involved the preparation of thematic papers which focused on the sources of growth, growth and markets, microeconomic determinants of growth, and the political economy of growth. The thematic papers give general overviews of the character of growth in each region. These reviews, by framing the circumstances and important issues surrounding growth, will inform the second phase of the exercise. In this stage, the project turned from broad themes to in-depth analysis of growth in about 70 countries worldwide.

Key support for this research project comes from The World Bank and International Economic Association.

An independent evaluation has been undertaken of this Global Research Project. The report presents the main findings of the evaluation and the lessons learned. More »

The high quality of research generated through the "Explaining Growth" project resulted in many publications which have become an excellent source of information on growth:

Explaining Growth: A Global Research Project
Economic Prospects of the CIS: Sources of Long Term Growth
Sources of Growth in Latin America: What is Missing?
South Asian Experience with Growth
Forthcoming: Explaining Growth in the Middle East

For more information on this project, please contact Savi Mull

» Concept Note


	Studies				Activities				Steering Committee & Project Management Team

List of Studies:

Hundreds of researchers across the world are involved in developing this comprehensive assessment of growth across regions. Researchers are involved in

Thematic papers focused on sources and determinants of aggregate growth; role of markets in influencing economic growth; microeconomic agents in the growth process; political economy of growth. Over 40 authors from all six regions participated in this first phase of the project.
In-depth country studies analyzing the particular experiences of over 70 countries.

In addition the GDN Global Research Project as benefited from the inputs of internationally renowned researchers who have provided their expertise and guidance from time to time.

List of Activities:

The "Explaining Growth" project was divided into two phases. Phase I sought to explain the growth experience of the six regions participating in the Global Development Network and phase II turns from broad regional themes to the in-depth analysis of the particular experiences of about 70 countries.

Project Management Team:
GDN's Global Research Project 'Explaining Growth' has benefited from the guidance and inputs of internationally renowned academics.