The objectives of development

As the author was one of the early writers stressing the well-being of the mass of the people and treating growth as a means rather than an end, the Editor asked him to describe the circumstances and add his present thoughts on the subject. The early part of the paper describes the evolution of the author's thinking on the objectives of development up to the publication of Accelerating Development (1966), and the Colombian Plan of the Four Strategies (1971).The latter part seeks to define objectives, pointing out that concern with poverty does not necessarily imply a direct attack on poverty.Further overriding objectives include the lessening of the ‘deprivation effect’ by reducing the gap in international consumption levels, and better control over the environment in its many aspects, primarily to ensure survival and ultimately to promote well-being.