ABSTRACT
Working on the Human Development Report (HDR) was a wonderful way of getting back to the broader issues of development and seeing and analysing them through the perspectives of the human development paradigm. Bill Draper, a US Republican and Administrator of UNDP when the HDR was created, was a strong supporter. The 1990 HDR introduced a new ranking of countries, the Human Development Index to illustrate how human development could be measured and countries ranked in terms of human achievement, in contrast to the more conventional ranking by GNP or GNP per capita, much narrower economic measures. HDR 1996 set out some important policy proposals to reduce inequalities, making the important point that there need be no conflict between growth and equity. HDR 1999 considered the needs for an international regime of regulation and relationships which encouraged and supported human development in all parts of the world, with humanity and equity as guiding principles.
