An introduction to the problems of development in poor third world countries, this book also makes clear their historical origins and discusses the way in which inequalities, both within and between countries, are propagated and perpetuated. Other problems of the third world countries analyzed here are: their typical patterns of fluctuating growth; the social structures in both rural and urban areas and their influence on the behaviour of governments and private investors; environmental control and population planning issues; also planning methods in third world countries and the hurdles such planning has encountered.