Rethinking Development Theory And Policy

For many decades post-colonial leaders in developing countries have tried various development plans based on orthodox development thinking and theorizing. Yet the developing world has failed to achieve sustained human-centered development. Many of the development plans have failed or been abandoned. Why does the developing world run the risk of falling behind their previously attained standards of living? This book takes a detailed look at the key paradigms of orthodox development thinking, discusses the various theories about economic growth, and concludes that the myths of orthodox development thinking regarding the origins of and obstacles to economic growth and human factor decay are the cause of economic underdevelopment in developing countries.

The book goes on to argue that developing countries need to establish and maintain efficient and effective human factor development programs in order to set the stage for human-centered development and to experience positive economic growth and a development turnaround.

Argues that the myths of orthodox development thinking and the neglect of the human factor are the cause of economic underdevelopment in developing countries.

Booknews

The editor of the journal of Review of Human Factors Studies analyzes the obstacles and agents of change that developing countries face in becoming part of the technological global village. From a human factors (HF) perspective, Adjibolosoo (business and economics, Trinity Western U., Canada) addresses: orthodox misconceptions about development; the human factors philosophy of economic growth/development--with a case study of African nations; and "identifying and defusing the hidden mines along the rails of the development train." Tables and figures illustrate variables of the HF model. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

SENYO B-S. K. ADJIBOLOSOO is Professor of Business and Economics at Trinity Western University in Canada, Director of the International Institute for Human Factor Development, and editor of the journal Review of Human Factor Studies.