Human Development in South Asia 2009: Trade and Human Development in South Asia

Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre's 2009 Report on Trade and Human Development in South Asia focuses on the imperative of linking the wellbeing of people to the trade-led economic growth that is happening in South Asia now. The human development model asserts that economic growth that is not linked to people cannot be sustained either socially or politically. Liberalization of trade must be complemented by well-designed equitable policies that serve as an engine for employment creation, capacity building, and poverty alleviation. However, the relationship between trade, human development and economic growth is not straight forward. That link has to be created consciously by forward-looking policies and strategies by both national governments and multilateral trade negotiating bodies. The Report presents critical analyses of agricultural, non-agricultural and services trade of South Asia, and it raises the issues of how the current trade negotiations have not yet addressed the concerns of developing countries. The Report argues that to sustain economic growth and enhance human development, South Asia needs to negotiate seriously at the multilateral trading forums, and also to use the regional forum (SAARC) to advance its economic and social goals. The wealth of data collected for the Report on South Asia's human development and trade-related indicators will be valuable for policymakers and academic researchers.