Starting in 1967, at ten-yearly intervals, three high-level Commissions, each chaired by a former government leader, were convened by the World Bank. The purpose, as stated by the President of the World Bank was “to study the consequences of [many years] of development assistance, to assess the results, to clarify the errors and propose policies that will work better in the future.” The first of the three commissions, led by the Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada, began its work in 1967. Subsequent commissions, convened in 1977 and 1987, were led, respectively, by Willy Brandt, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway. Both Pearson and Brandt had earlier been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

A difficulty confronted by each commission, indeed by all gatherings that attempt assessments of‘progress in development’, is that every agency and person that claims expertise in development expects to be consulted, their concepts and concerns to be entered into the final record. This chapter will offer no more than what appear to be significant and cogent observations and recommendations from each of the commissions.

The Pearson Commission

Supported by a sizeable secretariat the Pearson Commission travelled extensively, held many meetings with governments of LICs, development and donor agencies and with persons experienced in development activities, and reviewed an immense volume of relevant literature. The Commission's report fills some 200 pages with text and tabulations [Pearson 1969]. At the outset it states: “There is far more to development than economic and material progress; [the size] of GNP gives no assurance of possession of other values and qualities”.