The book examines the extent to which Amartya Sen's conception of 'development as freedom' can be a guide for development policy. It argues that the theoretical foundations of the conception need to be expanded, and that it needs to give more attention to collective and historical dimensions if...

This book focuses on changes in environmental and economic policies in six developing countries. It shows how domestic politics interact with international actors such as multilateral institutions. It offers lively accounts of the behaviour of political actors, interest groups and the civil...

This 2019 Article IV Consultation highlights that Costa Rican government recognizes the challenges and is planning a broad array of measures, although the political and social environment remains difficult. The Consultation focused on policies that would help restore fiscal sustainability,...

Few countries have achieved social development, which requires simultaneously securing market and social incorporation (good jobs and access to social services). This book reviews Costa Rica's experience as one of the few successful cases of double incorporation in the periphery.

The paper describes inequality trends in selected emerging economies (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa) in a range of monetary (i.e. income) and non-monetary dimensions of people’s life (i.e. education, health status, employment and subjective well-being)....