Each Friday I get an email from the Development Executive Group called the Global Development Briefing. It gives a quick summary of what has happened in the developing world. Today's briefing has a section called 2008 State of the Future:

The future continues to get better for most of the world, but a series of tipping points could drastically alter global prospects, according to the latest State of the Future report by the Millennium Project. Half the world is vulnerable to social instability and violence due to rising food and energy prices, failing states, falling water tables, climate change, decreasing water-food-energy supply per person, desertification, and increasing migrations due to political, environmental, and economic conditions, it says. “With nearly 3 billion people making USD 2 or less per day, long-term global social conflict seems inevitable without more serious food policies, useful scientific breakthroughs, and dietary changes," the Millennium Project says. “However, advances in science, technology, education, economics, and management seem capable of making the world work far better than it does today."

I've highlighted the word "management" from this quote because it stood out to me. It's not often that you see management listed among disciplines such as science, technology and education. It's good to see that while applying macro-economic theory and improving telecommunications infrastructure, people are starting to realize that it will take skilled managers, likely from the private sector, along with government officials and NGOs to make development programs work. Let's hear it for the MBAs!