Planning for Development

Abstract

The topic ‘Planning for Development’ is so general that it makes rigorous analysis difficult if not impossible, especially in the context of the Conference theme: ‘Accelerated Development in Southern Africa’. Analysis is complicated because Southern Africa is not a homogeneous economic or ecological region. It consists of political, economic, social and administrative areas which are at different stages of development and which enjoy different standards of living and degrees of autonomy. Short- and medium-term goals and means for achieving them will generally vary in accordance with the initial conditions in each region; adopted planning techniques will vary according to the different economic structures and the statistical data available for each regional economy.