Even taking account of successive changes to the LDC criteria (as shown in box figure 1.1 of chapter 1), and the absence of provisions for graduation until 1991, this indicates very limited progress towards graduation. It also suggests that neither the domestic policy efforts of LDCs nor the international support measures (ISMs) established to support them have had a decisive effect in improving their development prospects. This chapter addresses the national dimension of this issue, focusing on the processes by which LDCs can emerge from the underdevelopment discussed in chapter 1 and progress towards graduation. Section C analyses the role of geographical factors in influencing graduation performance.