The 1993 Report examines how and how much people participate in the events and processes that shape their lives. The democratic transition in many developing countries, the collapse of many socialist regimes, and the worldwide emergence of people's organizations - these are all part of a historic change, not just isolated events. People's participation is becoming the central issue of our time.

The Report looks at three major means of peoples' participation: people-friendly markets, decentralized governance and community organizations, especially non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and suggests concrete policy measures to address the growing problems of jobless growth.