The development problems of many countries continue to escalate despite the huge sums of money that are spent on social, economic, and political programs. In order to determine why particular solutions to these problems often do not work, it is necessary to identify and evaluate the human factor traits that give rise to specific attitudes, behaviors, and actions. Human factor traits include personality characteristics and other dimensions of human performance that enable social, economic, and political institutions to function and remain functional over time. In this fascinating volume, contributors examine the role of human factor traits that may promote or hinder the effectiveness of economic development programs. It brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines to discuss the relevance of human factor traits in shaping history and development, with the ultimate goal of providing information that will help create safer and more prosperous societies in the future. Original and thought provoking, this volume will be of value to scholars studying international development and economic planning.