The Changing Wealth of Nations: Measuring Sustainable Development in the New Millennium (Environment and Development)

This book is the latest report by the World Bank to estimate comprehensive wealth – including produced, natural and human / institutional assets – for over 100 countries. This ground-breaking report presents wealth accounts for 1995, 2000, and 2005, permitting the first longer-term assessment of global, regional, and country performance in building wealth. This overall assessment is complemented by chapters detailing individual components of wealth, as well as how countries and the World Bank are using comprehensive measures of wealth for policy analysis.

"This volume makes a convincing case that, in economic development as in other human pursuits, you get what you measure. It presents the first-ever direct estimates of changes in comprehensive national wealth, which can help identify policies for achieving sustained improvements in human well-being. Though topical, with coverage of such issues as the contribution of human capital to China's explosive economic growth, greenhouse gas accounting, and the role of governance in avoiding a resource curse, it will become more valuable with time as researchers explore the landmark data it has painstakingly compiled."

— Jeffrey Vincent , Clarence F. Korstian Professor of Forest Economics and Management, Nicholas School, Division of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Duke University

“The World Bank has conducted path-breaking research on wealth and sustainability: its Where is the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century was a revelation and an inspiration. Now they have extended and updated this work. If you are interested in national wealth, sustainability or even economic development in general, you MUST read this book.”

— Geofrrey Heal , Garrett Professor of Public Policy & Corporate Responsibility, Columbia Business School, Columbia University