World bank Quote by Jane Jacobs
““Development isn't a collection of things but rather a process that yields things. Not knowing this, governments, their development and aid agencies, the World Bank, and much of the public put faith in a fallacious 'Thing Theory' of development. The Thing Theory supposes that development is the result of possessing things such as factories, dams, schools, tractors, whatever- often bunches of things subsumed under the category of infrastructure. To suppose that things, per se, are sufficient to produce development creates false expectations and futilities.””
About This Quote
Development is a dynamic process, not merely the accumulation of physical assets; focusing only on infrastructure creates false expectations.
In simple terms: Development is process, not things.
Key Takeaway
Process matters more than material.
Themes
development studies
economics
policy
infrastructure
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
policy critique
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- government aid projects
- urban renewal plans
- NGO infrastructure programs
Key Concepts
process vs. product
systems thinking
Practical Applications
- Design policies that prioritize capacity building over static assets
Questions to Reflect On
- What indicators best capture developmental progress?
- How can we balance tangible investments with process-oriented reforms?
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