ABSTRACT
In 2015, when the United Nations adopted its historic 2030 plan for sustainable development, almost 10% of the Earth’s 7.34 billion population lived in extreme poverty, on less than US$1.90. Life expectancy and school enrollment have increased, child mortality and malnutrition have declined, and per capita Gross Domestic Product has more than doubled, lifting millions of people out of extreme poverty. This chapter provides an assessment of the progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8. It begins with some important definitions of sustained, inclusive economic growth and sustainability. The chapter discusses different theories of economic growth and explain how SDG 8 targets are related to these theories and to each other. Then the chapter evaluates the global progress toward these goals and use case studies of developing nations to illustrate how different policies implemented in these countries have affected the speed and nature of their progression.
