Now in its thirteenth annual edition, theWorld Development Report 1990is an essential reference on the world economy and the state of social and economic development. Like earlier editions, the 1990Reportincorporates research from all over the world, analyzing the conditions that surround the growth process and offering insights on appropriate policy measures for the future. Beginning with a review of developments in the world economy during the 1980s, the 1990Reportreassesses the role of public policy in reducing poverty in the developing world and describes how pricing and public investment, the delivery of social services, the provision of transfers and safety nets, and tradeoffs and complimentarities can contribute to a poverty-reducing strategy. With its timely survey and synthesis of contemporary economic issues around the world, theWorld Development Report 1990is invaluable to readers and policymakers interested in economic development, international economics, and international politics.