This paper is an introduction to the Development Studies Conference and an overview of the four main topics that were the focus of conference discussion. A survey of the evolution of development thought serves to introduce the presentation of nine hypotheses. The latter provide a framework for comment upon the four conference themes: household and village economy; the economics of institutional change; the economics of new technology adaptation and adoption; and overall planning and the economics of human resource and infrastructure development. Not unexpectedly, the chief conclusion is that there is no magic formula for development.