Welcome to the United Nations
The World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) was first issued in 1994, evolving in response to a 1947 mandate by the General Assembly which requested the Secretary-General to submit annual reports on current world economic conditions and trends to the Economic and Social Council. Its precursors were Economic Report: Salient Features of the World Economic Situation from 1945 to 1947; World Economic Report (1948-1954); and World Economic Survey (1955-1993).
In 1999, a second, thematic part was introduced into the Survey, focusing on specific medium- to long-term development challenges. Since 2005, the Survey has devoted itself entirely to specific themes of topical interest related to developments in the world economy. Since then, its sister publication, the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP), first issued in 1999, has served as the lead publication in the annual discussion of current economic trends and prospects.
Recently, as a result of the United Nations History Project, considerable interest has been generated in the contribution that the United Nations has made to the understanding of the world economy. The complete set of Surveys, which can be downloaded free of charge from this site, provides a unique collection of analyses reflecting the evolution of United Nations thinking on economic and social development.
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Salient Features of the World Economic Situation 1945-47
Salient Features of the World Economic Situation 1945-47 is the first economic report in a planned series designed to meet the need recognized by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council for a regular appraisal of world economic conditions and trends as a prerequisite for recommendations as to concerted national or international action in the economic field.