The Development and Sustainability thematic study explores how societies pursue development, address poverty and inequality, and balance economic, political, social, and environmental priorities .

You will investigate:

Development can be understood through political, social, institutional, and economic dimensions , while sustainability can include environmental, social, and economic dimensions . The syllabus also emphasizes that poverty can involve a lack of opportunities and resources , while inequality can involve economic, political, and social differences and power asymmetries .

You will examine the roles of:

Examples include the World Bank, IMF, Inter-American Development Bank, WTO, and International Committee of the Red Cross , as well as communities affected by extreme poverty and structural inequalities.

You will examine different dimensions and measurements of development and sustainability. The guide identifies measures including:

You will also consider factors influencing development and sustainability:

You will investigate:

Key takeaway – Development and Sustainability requires you to look beyond economic growth and consider how political, economic, social, institutional, and environmental factors interact to shape people's quality of life and the sustainability of societies.