CDP Background Paper No. 38
By Sakiko Fukuda-Parr and Kim Treanor
Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) is one of the core priorities of the Sustainable Development Goal health agenda, and much of the debates on the means to achieve this target has focused on financing and benefits models. However, little attention has been paid to the challenges related to the costs of providing UHC, such as the affordability of medicines.
This paper explores the challenges countries face in negotiating trade and investment agreements that could restrict their ability to manage access to medicines and the public health systems more generally. The paper outlines the key provisions in recent trade…
Trade agreements and policy space for achieving universal health coverage
CDP Background Paper No. 37
By Committee for Development Policy secretariat
Least developed countries (LDCs) are characterized by limited productive capacities, which constrains their efforts towards structural transformation and sustainable development. At the same time, the actual policy choices countries that have graduated or have made significant progress towards graduation from the LDC category provide a wide range of lessons other LDCs and the international community can learn from.
Whereas countries can be on different pathways towards graduation, a diverse set of social, macroeconomic, financial, agricultural and industrial policies can be effective. However, good development…
Lessons learned in developing productive capacities: Fourteen case studies
Declining headline unemployment rates mask deeper labour market challenges in both developed and developing regions
High youth unemployment not only bears significant costs for the individual but also damages the social fabric
Long term investments in education, fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing social safety nets promote more inclusive labour markets
English: PDF (172 kb), EPUB (287kb)
Global issues
High youth unemployment presents a daunting challenge for policymakers around the world
The promotion of full and productive employment and decent work for all is a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In tandem with the acceleration in global economic activity…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: February 2018 Briefing, No. 111
WESP 2018 highlights that the strengthening global economy is an opportunity to address structural challenges
Several economies in Africa, Latin America and Western Asia still see negligible per capita income growth
East and South Asia remain world?s most dynamic regions
English: PDF (197 kb), EPUB (262kb)
Global issues
WESP 2018: Stronger global economy offers opportunities?to tackle deep-rooted development issues
According to the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2018, launched on 11 December 2017, the world economy has strengthened, as crisis-related fragilities and the adverse effects of recent shocks subside. Investment conditions have improved in many countries. This…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: January 2018 Briefing, No. 110
Professor Keith Nurse, Rapporteur of the CDP and the CDP Secretariat participated in the EGM on UN Support for Graduation and Smooth Transition for the LDCs on 14 December 2017. The meeting was organized by OHRLLS and brought together representatives from LDCs, including from countries that are in the process of graduating or have graduated from the category of the LDCs, representatives from the UN system and other international organizations and experts on LDC specific support and graduation to discuss the needs of LDCs and possible UN response to these needs in relation to graduation and smooth transition.
During the morning session Prof. Nurse and the CDP Secretariat provided an…
The world economy has strengthened as lingering fragilities related to the global financial crisis subside. In 2017, global economic growth reached 3 per cent?the highest growth rate since 2011?and growth is expected to remain steady for the coming year.? The improved global economic situation provides an opportunity for countries to focus policy towards longer-term issues such as low carbon economic growth, reducing inequalities, economic diversification and eliminating deep-rooted barriers that hinder development.
?As the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018 demonstrates, current macroeconomic conditions offer policymakers greater scope to address some of the deep-rooted systemic…
World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018
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