The Cold War debate in which the West stood for civil and political rights and the Soviet Union argued for economic and social rights was sterile and stillborn. It ignored the fundamental insight of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: human beings require both to live in dignity and flourish. Taking economic and social rights seriously will be as important for the survival of democracies in this century as safeguarding their heritage of civil and political rights. This book is an important and useful step in that direction.

Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University

Economists who understand human rights are as rare as human rights proponents who understand economics. When these rare breeds collaborate on a project focused on the much neglected category of economic and social rights, as well as tackle the difficult question of quantification, the result is an indispensable tool for human rights decision-makers and practitioners.

Philip Alston, Professor, New York University Law School

Human rights scholars and practitioners have long sought comparative measures for economic and social rights. This volume provides a well-defended and methodologically grounded set of measures that capture the idea of progressive realization in ways that have not been done before. This is a welcome addition to the systematic study of human rights that moves the field forward in an exciting and significant direction.

Todd Landman, Professor of Government and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Essex