Equitable Development in Theory and Practice: Evolution, Definitions, Frameworks, and Tools

Studies on equitable development have proliferated in recent years across an array of academic disciplines, but no review has examined the conceptualization and application of the term. We conduct a narrative review that traces the term's evolution over time across disciplines and geographies. After analyzing how different domains conceptualize equitable development, we examine frameworks and tools used to advance equitable development in practice. We find that there is little agreement on definitions, scales for implementation, or even what approaches are most effective. Moving forward, we propose a research agenda that will help guide the push for equitable development in practice.