Basic human needs : a development planning approach

The concrete objective of the BHN approach is to enable individuals to attain a sustainable, minimum standard of living, defined in material terms, by linking growth in GNP to provision for BHN. Thus, the BHN strategy focuses on the tangible necessities of life -- food, water, clothing, shelter, health, education and so forth -- without which a person has little or no chance to lead a fulfilling existence. Development policy options are presented in a framework organized around the four immediate objectives of the BHN approach -- those concerning employment, income transfer, public services and private goods. Concludes that all of the presented development policy options would not be appropriate in all countries, but rather that any country concerned with satisfying basic needs on a sustainable basis could identify some subset of these policies that would be both effective and appropriate given its particular political and economic circumstances. A bibliography is included.