The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations were deliberately ambitious, and they have been the subject of much debate. Now, with the 2015 target date for many of the goals having passed, it is time to assess the goals and attempt to determine whether they were effective. Gathering leading scholars from a range of backgrounds and regions, this book offers an in-depth exploration of that question, with the aim of better understanding the effects of the MDGs and learning from them for future policy decisions. It examines the impact of the MDGs on countries and regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, and discusses a range of topics including anti-poverty transfer programmes, sustainable development, and the role of women in economic development.