This enlightening book offers a comprehensive historical analysis of the main development challenges of the last half century and the international community's response through aid and trade. Much has happened: the oil crises of the 1970s, the debt crises of the 1980s, the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the Millennium Development Goals, the onslaught of Globalization and the rise of its opponents since the financial crisis of the 2000s. Through it all, development has spread and global poverty declined. The volume assesses the contributions and coherence of developing and developed country policies and the role played by global institutions entrusted with responsibilities to enhance trade and support development. The volume concludes with a focus on the prospects for the future and the changes needed to make globalization more equitable. With 50 years of professional experience in the World Bank, the WTO and bilateral aid agencies, Michalopoulos brings an insider's perspective on the workings of these institutions and what needs to be done to make them more effective and responsive to changing global needs.
"Michalopoulos' book represents a thorough and thoughtful account of the myriad policy and analytical issues which lie at the crossroads of trade, aid and the development process. Its breadth of coverage and extensive bibliography after each chapter make it an important reference for students and practitioners of these matters, as well as for policymakers grappling with such issues." (George Papaconstantinou, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, November 11, 2018)