In 2000, UN member states pledged to halve world poverty by 2015, among other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). But progress has been elusive since. The chapters in this volume address disparate problems in achieving the UN development agenda, from the complex effects of trade and financial liberalization to the realities of development aid, itself a central pillar of the MDGs. The unifying theme is one of economic and social integration, and an emphasis on long-term strategic investments in education, health and infrastructure. By challenging mainstream economic thought, Policy Matters is required reading for students, academics and activists wanting to engage in the debate, and help achieve the MDGs.