We have redesigned the World Development Indicators to expand its coverage of development issues in a new, free-standing format, complemented by a comprehensive database on CD-ROM and a redesigned World Bank Atlas. This new family of products embodies many aspects of the change we are trying to bring about at the World Bank Group.
First, the selection of indicators reflects a broader, more integrated approach to development. The World Development Indicators starts from the premise that development is about the quality of life. It places people and poverty reduction first, at the center of the development agenda where they belong. In its five main sections it recognizes the interplay of a wide range of issues: human capital development, environmental sustainability, macroeconomic performance, private sector development, and the global links that influence the external environment for development.
Second, the new World Development Indicators is an excellent example of global partnership in creating and sharing knowledge and in making knowledge a major force for development—an area where I see the World Bank playing an increasingly important role. I would like to thank our partners in the United Nations family, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the OECD, the statistical offices of more than 200 economies, and countless others who have made this unique product possible. Throughout the volume we have acknowledged their contributions in order to guide researchers and others seeking information to the many sources on which it draws. And because the World Development Indicators draws on the Bank’s own cross-country experience and sectoral knowledge, I am particularly pleased to note the important role of the new sectoral networks of Bank staff in the redesign. Their support and that of staff of the International Finance Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency truly make the World Development Indicators a Bank Group product.
Third, the new World Development Indicators reflects the Bank Group’s new emphasis on development impact and outcomes. I hope that the World Development Indicators will become the principal mechanism by which the world measures progress in reducing poverty and in enriching the lives of people everywhere. For this to happen, however, all of us—governments, international institutions, and the private sector—will have to pay far more attention to the coverage, timeliness, and quality of information about development policies and outcomes. The detailed technical notes that accompany each set of indicators show how much work still lies ahead.
Finally, the annual World Development Indicators is very much a work in progress. In the spirit of the new Bank, its redesign reflects extensive consultation with our clients. And knowing that it could be even richer and more comprehensive, we welcome your comments to assist us in making it even more powerful in serving our clients’ needs.
James D. Wolfensohn
President
The World Bank Group