Checklist for Making a Differential Diagnosis of an Economy
This checklist comes from Jeffrey D. Sachs' book entitled The End of Poverty copyright 2005

 
 
I. Poverty Trap
 
Proportion of Households lacking basic needs
 
Spatial distribution of household poverty
 
Spatial Distribution of basic infrastructure (power, roads, telecoms, water and sanitation)
 
Ethnic, gender, generational distribution of poverty
 
Key risk factors
 
    Demographic trends
 
    Environmental Trends
 
    Climate Shocks
 
    Disease
 
    Commodity price fluctuations
 
    Others
 
II. Economic Policy Framework
 
Business environment
 
Trade policy

Investment policy

Infrastructure

Human capital

III. Fiscal Framework and Fiscal Trap

Public Sector revenues and expenditures by category

     Percent of GDP

     Absolute levels in comparison with international norms

Tax administration and expenditure management

Public investment needs to meet poverty reduction targets

Macroeconomic instability

Overhang of public sector debt

Medium-term public sector expenditure framework

IV. Physical Geography

Transport conditions

     Proximity of population to ports, international trade routes, navigable waterways

     Access of population to paved roads

     Access of population to motorized transport

Population density

     Costs of connectivity to power, telecoms, roads

     Arable land per capita

     Environmental impacts of population-land ratios

V. Governance Patterns and Failures

Civil and political rights

Public management systems

Decentralization and fiscal federalism

Corruption patterns and intensity

Political succession and longevity

Internal violence and security

Cross-border violence and security

Ethnic, religious, and other cultural diversions

VI. Cultural Barriers

Gender relations

Ethnic and religious divisions

Diaspora

VII. Geopolitics

International security relations

Cross-border security threats

     War

     Terrorism

     Refugees

International sanctions

Trade barriers

Participation in regional and international groups