Trends in World Social Development explores the dynamics and long-term consequences of the widening gap between the world's rich and poor nations. Building on his prior work, The Social Progress of Nations, this new volume reports both statistical and field observational data pertinent to the international, social, and political events of the 1980s through 1986. Highlights of this up-dated work include: a refined Index of Social Progress containing new indicators; detailed data on patterns of national and regional development; an analysis of trends in social development in 124 nations; and an examination of the People's Republic of China.