Overcoming the adverse effects of geography: Infrastructure, health, and agricultural policies

Geography strongly affects development, but geography is not destiny. Publi c infrastructure investments, health policy, and agricultural policies can help overcome the adverse effects of geography on economic growth. A close relationship exists between climate and development, bur human capital inve stment and health policy seem key to economic development in tropical areas . Likewise, strong relationships exist among coastal locations, urbanizatio n, and growth, but investment in transportation and communication infrastru cture linking coastal and hinterland areas facilitates hinterland developme nt. Access to hinterland resources is a geographic challenge to be overcome by infrastructure investment. The failure of hinterland development in som e countries is partly due to insufficient transportation and communication investment.