This textbook is specifically designed for students of economics and the social sciences who are taking a first course in economic development and have a background knowledge of macro- and microeconomics. Written in a simple but rigorous way, it contains many examples to help the student, and provides a set of questions for discussion and review at the end of each chatper. The book opens with an analysis of the world development gap between rich and poor countries. It then introduces such important topics as the measurement of the sources of growth, the role of agriculture in the development process, and the importance of capital accumulation and industrialization. It discusses obstacles to development such as population growth and trade inequalities, the role of planning and various planning techniques, and the financing of development from both domestic sources and abroad. The activities of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are critically scrutinized.