CDP Policy Review No. 2
By Keun Lee
The paper discusses two ways of building productive capacity in LDCs: the manufacture of products to foreign buyers? specifications, and the integration of resource-based sectors into global value chains using backward and forward linkages. Using country examples the paper then shows how government and the international community can support the growth of productive capacity in various ways including research institutes and public research organisations. The paper argues that some LDCs should try to leapfrog into newly emerging sectors such as renewable energy.
Development of technological capabilities for building productive capacity in LDCs
CDP Policy Review No. 1
By Jos? Antonio Alonso
The paper looks into the origins of Aid for Trade (AfT) and its objective of assisting developing countries to increase exports of goods and services and integrate into the multilateral trading system. Pointing out that AfT is not a new development fund nor a new aid category, the paper looks into the flows and impact of ODA resources allocated to AfT while focusing on LDCs as well as the effectiveness of AfT. Among the recommendations, the paper argues that most Aid for Trade is allocated to middle income countries and that a shift in this allocation pattern is needed to give more attention to LDCs, particular those that are not well…
Aid for trade: building productive and trade capacities in LDCs
On the 13th and 14th of October 2016, the Development Strategy and Policy Analysis (DSP) Unit will hold the First Expert Group Meeting to support the preparation of the 70 year anniversary issue of the World Economic and Social Survey 2017 (WESS 2017) on ?The contribution of the World Economic and Social Survey to development, theory and practice?. The meeting will bring together the lead authors of the chapters in WESS 2017, members of the UN DESA Team, experts in the selected subject matter and colleagues from UN member organizations. The objective of the meeting is to review the draft chapters for WESS 2017 with the expectation of receiving comments and suggestions for the preparation of…
Expert Group Meeting: The contribution of the World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) to development, theory and practice
The Bank of Japan announces decision to cap 10-year bond yields to address deflation and restore profitability and growth
United States household incomes rise sharply in 2015
The Nigerian economy contracts at a faster pace amid significant macroeconomic challenges
Global issues
The Bank of Japan announces decision to cap 10-year bond yields to address deflation and restore profitability and growth
On 21 September, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced a new set of unconventional monetary policy measures aimed at boosting inflation and reviving growth. The BoJ?s new monetary policy strategy consists of two components. The first is a ?quantitative and qualitative monetary easing with yield…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: October 2016 Briefing, No. 95
The World Economic and Social Survey 2016 contributes to the debate on the implementation challenges of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In addressing the specific challenge of building resilience to climate change, the Survey focuses attention on the population groups and communities that are disproportionately affected by climate hazards. It argues that, in the absence of transformative policies which coherently address the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development, building climate resilience will remain elusive and poverty and inequalities will worsen.
To the extent that the differential impact of climate hazards on people and communities is determined…
World Economic and Social Survey 2016: Climate Change Resilience: An Opportunity for Reducing Inequalities
On 29 September 2016 the CDP Subgroup on Leaving No One Behind will hold a virtual meeting to discuss development strategies that particularly promote the well-being of the worst off, as a part of the Committee?s multi-year work programme on the theme of ?Leaving No One Behind?.
Documents
Agenda
CDP Expert Group Meeting on Leaving No One Behind
Global growth prospects restrained by persistent weak labour productivity growth
Services trade as a potential source of global growth
Growth moderation in India amid a contraction of investment activity
Global issues
Global economy restrained by weak productivity growth
The world economy has slowed markedly since the global financial crisis. As highlighted in the World Economic Situation and Prospects Update as of mid-2016, world gross product has expanded at an average annual rate of 2.6 per cent since 2010, much slower than the average growth rate of 3.4 per cent observed between 2000 and 2007. The prolonged period of slow global growth has been characterized by a marked slowdown in…
World Economic Situation And Prospects: September 2016 Briefing, No. 94
In the past 20 years, weather-related disasters affected 4.2 billion people worldwide, with a large loss of life and livelihoods. The global annual average cost of climatic disasters, including floods, storms, droughts and heat waves, is estimated to have risen from $64 billion during the period 1985-1994 to $154 billion in the period 2005-2014. A more complete estimate of global costs, taking into account the loss associated with slow-onset climate events (e.g., sea-level rise and desertification), is likely to yield a larger figure.
Developing countries are the most affected by climate change and require the most aid
The evidence shows that low-income countries suffered the greatest…
UN/DESA Policy Brief #50: International finance to support climate change resilience
Identifying the population groups at greatest risk due to climate-related events, understanding the specific risks they incur, and monitoring the interventions to reduce their vulnerability requires basic indicators on populations in vulnerable zones. Furthermore, these indicators must meet international criteria for standardized sources and methods, frequency and continuity, and be easy to understand. When such fine-grained information is missing, rigorous climate impact assessments and the capacity of policymakers to respond are seriously challenged.
People living in low-lying coastal areas and drylands, in mountainous, rural areas (especially in low-income developing countries), in…
UN/DESA Policy Brief #49: Data and statistics for climate change resilience
Climate change has a differential impact on people and communities. The people at greatest risk are the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized that, in most cases, have been excluded from socioeconomic progress. Differences in wealth; unequal opportunities to access quality health services, education and employment; and inequality with respect to voice and political representation are the underpinnings of continued exposure and vulnerability of large population groups to climate hazards.
Public policies have an important role to play in strengthening the capacity of people to adapt, particularly in those areas where the private sector is unlikely to invest. Policies to improve resilience…
UN/DESA Policy Brief #48: Adaptation to climate change requires transformative policies
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