Development economics has seen continuing changes since its inception. This paper intends to add new facets to the understanding of its history. Inter alia, it attempts to provide answers as to why economists disagree and why partial approaches are bound to fail. It also addresses a number of issues that development policy has so far been unable to resolve. Finally, the paper analyzes salient features of the recently proposed approach of a „Global Social Policy“. It concludes that, if only part of its elements were fulfilled, there would be no need for the approach as a whole.
