Learning United Nations Industrial Development Organization Copyright © 2002 United Nations Industrial Development Organization

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authori-ties, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Designations such as "developed", "industrialized " and "developing " are intended for statistical convenience, and do not necessarily express a judgement about the state reached by a particular country or area in the development process. The mention of firm names or commercial products does not imply endorsement by UNIDO. Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, together with a copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint. ISBN 92-1-106420-1 UN sales number E.02.II.B.13 UNIDO publication identification number 414 iii THE CURRENT PREDICAMENT OF MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ANDthe state of the global economy deflate the optimismin the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals. The problem is not just the apparent wedge between targets and trends. It is the mor