Publisher's Synopsis
This book sets out to present the major directions in the development and application of data and indicators for purposes of monitoring social progress in developing countries. One of the major conclusions of the work is that the proliferation of data on a wide range of phenomena thought useful for measuring development has yet to be matched by significant improvements in the reliability of the data. As a result, many assessments of social conditions are likely to be critically flawed. Good policy requires good information. This collection discusses ways to improve the information underpinning public decision making in developing countries. Individual chapters address the methodological, organizational and institutional factors hindering the acquisition of more timely and accurate social data and indicators. Contributors to this collection are internationally recognized experts in their fields, with long experience in efforts to measure socio-economic conditions in developing countries.
