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The Odds of Achieving the MDGs

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  • Delfin S. Go
  • José Alejandro Quijada

Abstract

Three questions are frequently raised about the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Where do developing countries stand? What factors affect their rate of progress? Can lagging countries achieve these goals in the few years remaining until 2015? This paper examines these questions and takes a closer look at the variation in the rate of progress among developing countries. We argue that answers from the available data are surprisingly positive. In particular, three-quarters of developing countries are on target or close to being on target for all of the MDGs. Among the countries that are falling short, the average gap for the top half is about 10 percent. For those that are on target, or close to it, solid economic growth, policies, and institutions have been the key factors in their success. With improved policies and stronger growth, many countries that are close to being on target could achieve these targets by 2015 or soon after. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Delfin S. Go & José Alejandro Quijada, 2012. "The Odds of Achieving the MDGs," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 27(2), pages 143-184, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbrobs:v:27:y:2012:i:2:p:143-184
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wbro/lks005
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Hickmann & Frank Biermann & Matteo Spinazzola & Charlotte Ballard & Maya Bogers & Oana Forestier & Agni Kalfagianni & Rakhyun E. Kim & Francesco S. Montesano & Tom Peek & Carole‐Anne Sénit & Me, 2023. "Success factors of global goal‐setting for sustainable development: Learning from the Millennium Development Goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1214-1225, June.
    2. S. Amer Ahmed & Marcio Cruz & Delfin S. Go & Maryla Maliszewska & Israel Osorio-Rodarte, 2016. "How Significant Is Sub-Saharan Africa's Demographic Dividend for Its Future Growth and Poverty Reduction?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(4), pages 762-793, November.
    3. Grépin, Karen A. & Bharadwaj, Prashant, 2015. "Maternal education and child mortality in Zimbabwe," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 97-117.
    4. Nigel O. M. Brissett, 2018. "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Caribbean: Unrealizable promises?," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 18(1), pages 18-35, January.
    5. Wagstaff, Adam & Bredenkamp, Caryn & Buisman, Leander R., 2014. "Progress toward the health MDGs : are the poor being left behind ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6894, The World Bank.

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