Some lessons from OU MSc (Development Management) - Macroeconomics

1) Since WW2, there was an increase in GDP per capita inequality between states and within states up until about 1990 (Milanovic, 2012).  Since the 1990s this continues within states, but is reversing between states.  More recent HDI measures (literacy, health, wealth) indicate that global HDI figures have consistently improved between 1990 and 2012 (UNDP, 2000 p.12)

2) Negative GDP growth seen in sub-Saharan Africa in 1970s ('debt-led growth' following OPEC crisis) and 1980s ('lost decade').  Similar, if slightly less pronounced trends seen in India and Bangladesh.

3) Most MDGs have moved nearly to the success criteria between 1990 and 2015, key sub-measure exceptions being carbon emissions (climate change), clean water availability

4) Should be noted that global measures give a helpful overview but national/regional/local distinctions are much more important for intervention.  Unless, of course, you're implementing macroeconomic interventions, which seem just as heinously complex as implementing UK macroeconomic interventions.

5) Recent significant African progress in HDI-esque index (including GDP) seen in Angola, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique.  Continued progress in Brazil/India/China; and the Asian tigers (Singapore, Taiwan, HongKong, South Korea) have recovered the late 1990s slump to a repeat of rapid growth