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(Todaro and Smith, 2003). Economic development in its essence must represent the whole<br />

system <strong>of</strong> change by which an entire social system, tuned to the diverse basic needs and<br />

desires <strong>of</strong> individuals and social groups within the system moves away from a condition <strong>of</strong><br />

life widely perceived as unsatisfactory towards a situation or condition <strong>of</strong> life regarded as<br />

materially and spiritually better [www.wordiq.com. (2008)].<br />

In this research, economic development is taken to refer to a much wider range <strong>of</strong> variables,<br />

including especially that whole social, economic and political process which results in a<br />

perceptible and cumulative rise in the standard and quality <strong>of</strong> life for an increasing proportion<br />

<strong>of</strong>the population.<br />

1.4.7 Local economic development<br />

Local economic development is a process that facilitates community economic development.<br />

It links pr<strong>of</strong>itable growth to redistributive development and financing using the existing local<br />

resources. Local economic development again links 'living wages', human capital<br />

development and productivity. In this research, local economic development embraces both<br />

pro-poor and pro growth perspectives to improve the quality <strong>of</strong> life <strong>of</strong> the people (Local<br />

Economic Development, 2001).<br />

1.4.8 Sustainable development<br />

The concept 'sustainable development', devised by the World Commission on Environment<br />

and Development is defined as meeting the needs <strong>of</strong> the present communities 'without<br />

compromising the ability <strong>of</strong> future generations to meet their own needs', (WCED. 1987:8).<br />

Sustainable development usually operates on the natural and cultural environment and<br />

therefore suggests the physical or land use setting, upon which people or humans participate<br />

in economic activities associated with development. The precise meaning <strong>of</strong> sustainable<br />

development has been widely debated. Two years after the Brundtland Commission's report<br />

had popularised the term, over 140 definitions <strong>of</strong> sustainable development had been<br />

catalogued [www.wordiq.com/definitionfEs:Desarrollo_sostenible. 2008)].<br />

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