The only way out of the Development Trap, and the only route to sustainable development and an end to pervasive energy poverty is to make clean energy cheap.

FORBES: Without Affordable, Clean Alternatives, South Africa Turns to Coal

This enabled him to be able to distinguish between trendy clap trap, and genuine educational innovation and newsworthy development.

BBC: Mike Baker, 2001

Other countries have also rung up hefty bills since the 2008 financial crash, but are at a much later stage of development than China, which faces a middle-income trap as its cheap labour pool dries up.

FORBES: Temper China Growth Expectations, Says CLSA Cheerleader

The flip-side to the poverty trap, however, is that the gains of development tend to be sustained, once countries break through to sufficient levels of income, health and literacy.

ECONOMIST: By invitation

Milford Bateman - a consultant in local economic development - argues there is evidence a lot of micro finance is used for consumption spending and can trap people in simply servicing loans.

BBC: Banking on eradicating poverty