Sentence:  Thus , although the agenda of external assistance in the economic sphere are cumulative , and many of the policies suggested for nations in the earlier stages remain relevant , the basic purpose of American economic policy during the later stages of development should be to assure that movement into a stage of <WSD>self-sustaining</WSD> growth is not prevented by lack of foreign exchange . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  able to provide for your own needs without help from others