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Global Development Goals: If At All, Why, When and How?

Author

Listed:
  • Sanjay G. Reddy

    (Department of Economics, New School for Social Research)

  • Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven

    (Department of Economics, New School for Social Research)

Abstract

We raise some basic conceptual questions regarding global development goals: Why have them at all? What function, if any, might they serve, and under what conditions could they do so successfully? Based on our answers to these questions, we identify serious inadequacies in the contemporary approach to development goals and relate these to weaknesses in how the goals were conceived and formulated. Despite these failings, higher-level goals may play a useful role if the practical approach to them is embedded in a holistic and integrated vision of a better world. Focusing on goals rather than targets opens needed space for flexibility, innovation, and fuller democratic accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanjay G. Reddy & Ingrid Harvold Kvangraven, 2015. "Global Development Goals: If At All, Why, When and How?," Working Papers 1523, New School for Social Research, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:new:wpaper:1523
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    File URL: http://www.economicpolicyresearch.org/econ/2015/NSSR_WP_232015.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacob Assa & Ingrid H. Kvangraven, 2018. "Imputing Away the Ladder: Implications of Changes in National Accounting Standards for Assessing Inter-country Inequalities," Working Papers 1813, New School for Social Research, Department of Economics.

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