This post explores the now freely available World Development Indicators, from the World Bank. In particular, it looks at urbanisation and the role for cities in development and creating wealth and well-being. Over the past 50 years, China in particular has urbanised fast. Over the next 50, India may be the centre of city growth. This presents development challenges but on balance is a huge opportunity.
Long-run data on inequality within and across countries from the 1820s allow a Rawlsian look at the world: how well off are the poorest in society? This post calculates GDP per capita of the poorest 10% of a society for a selection of world regions. This perspective makes Africa’s plight even more baffling, given that its poorest citizens were better off than those of any other developing region up to 1914. Its poorest citizens now are no better off than its poorest citizens then.
