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Reshaping International Institutions to Achieve Millennium Development Goals

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Multilateral Development Cooperation in a Changing Global Order

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

The analysis in this chapter highlights the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the progress in their achievement, and the constraints to their fulfillment. The first section discusses the process by which the goals were developed. It explores the philosophical and economic underpinnings which resulted in the goals such as shifts from macro stability policies, the changing priorities of donors, and a focus on the social conditions of development. The second section analyzes the progress that has been made in achieving the MDGs. There are, broadly speaking, two routes to achieving the MDGs: rapid economic growth that raises people’s expectations and provides the resources needed to meet these aspirations; or implementing special programs geared to improving the delivery of services to the poor.1 Analysis shows that either route will be difficult due to the current international economic environment. Prospects for growth in the developed countries are poor for the next few years (IMF 2012; World Bank 2012; Chapter 1, this volume). A traditional export-oriented development policy that can spur economic growth in developing countries is unlikely to succeed. Even though progress on the MDGs seems to have been limited, particularly in the poorest regions, caution should be taken in drawing conclusions as data is often inadequate.

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Authors
  1. Manmohan Agarwal
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The North-South Institute, Canada

    Hany Besada  & Shannon Kindornay  & 

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© 2013 Manmohan Agarwal

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Agarwal, M. (2013). Reshaping International Institutions to Achieve Millennium Development Goals. In: Besada, H., Kindornay, S. (eds) Multilateral Development Cooperation in a Changing Global Order. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137297761_3

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