Economic development: a review of key themes in the international literature

Abstract

This report has been commissioned by the Ministry of Transport to provide an overview of how economies can be supported to develop and grow. It focuses on how capabilities can be expanded through: investment in physical capital; investment in human capital (education); and investment in new knowledge creation and utilisation.

The AERU at Lincoln University was commissioned by the Ministry of Transport to prepare a report reviewing the economics literature on approaches to economic development. The report does not aim to consider the relationship between transport and the economy: this will take place at a subsequent stage. Instead, the purpose of the report is to provide a general readership with an overview of the major themes in research by economists on how economies can be supported to develop and grow.