This resource book documents and analyzes current trends in the economic development of the South Asian countries of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and evaluates the progress they have made in achieving sustained economic growth and improvement in the quality of life for present and future generations. Their current low growth rates condemn the majority of the population of these countries to unremitting misery and make efforts to redistribute income more difficult. Low savings and exports handicap efforts to accelerate economic growth and declining food production dooms increasing numbers to hunger and disease. This volume examines not only the poorer countries, but also the plight of the poor within developing countries.