Publications | Economic Analysis and Policy Division

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01 May 2020

UN/DESA Policy Brief #65: Responses to the COVID-19 catastrophe could turn the tide on inequality

Even as all of humanity confronts COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly clear that pre-existing inequalities along various dimensions are differentiating its impact. At the same time, inequalities within and across countries also stand to widen because of the crisis. Such outcomes are not inevitable: past experience shows that sufficiently bold measures that put people at the centre of crisis response and recovery can lead to better, more equitable and resilient outcomes for all. Living and working conditions determine the chances of infection Interventions that reduce the chances of being infected, such as social distancing, are more difficult where population densities are high, as in… UN/DESA Policy Brief #65: Responses to the COVID-19 catastrophe could turn the tide on inequality

01 May 2020

UN/DESA Policy Brief #64: The COVID-19 pandemic puts Small Island Developing economies in dire straits

The COVID-19 pandemic puts Small island developing economies in dire straits Small island developing countries?accounting for less than 1% of the world?s population?represent nearly 20% of the membership of the United Nations. The overarching principle of sovereign equality, as enshrined in Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, requires that the United Nations pay adequate attention to all countries, both large and small. This Policy Brief analyses and underscores why small island economies?as countries in special situations?deserve special attention as the world faces an unprecedented health and economic crisis. The policy brief identifies immediate macroeconomic impacts of the current… UN/DESA Policy Brief #64: The COVID-19 pandemic puts Small Island Developing economies in dire straits

01 May 2020

UN/DESA Policy Brief #63: The COVID-19 pandemic: A speedy and balanced recovery of Europe will remain critical for the world to return to the trajectory of sustainable development

Europe faced the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, with its share of total deaths rising from about 1% of the global total to 72% in just one month. The region?s share of global COVID-19 related deaths fell to 68% by 9 April (Figure 1), as death tolls sharply increased in the United States. In Italy and Spain?the two hardest hit countries in Europe?the daily death tolls are falling. In many other countries, the daily number of deaths has been declining or has plateaued. Flattening the curve versus flattening the economy With a rapidly rising number of confirmed cases, European governments faced a difficult choice between flattening the curve versus flattening the economy. Italy,… UN/DESA Policy Brief #63: The COVID-19 pandemic: A speedy and balanced recovery of Europe will remain critical for the world to return to the trajectory of sustainable development

01 May 2020

World Economic Situation And Prospects: May 2020 Briefing, No. 137

The pandemic crisis will worsen global inequality The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on the global eco??nomy, unleashing the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Since the April 2020 Monthly Briefing on the World Economic Situation and Prospects, the global death toll of the pandemic has increased by more than 330 per cent, while the number of confirmed cases rose by over 210 per cent. COVID-19 is now the most severe health crisis since the Spanish Flu of 1918. The epicenter of the pandemic shifted from Europe to the United States during the past month, with the latter now accounting for nearly one third of confirmed cases and a quarter of the death toll globally. The… World Economic Situation And Prospects: May 2020 Briefing, No. 137

01 May 2020

11. Covid-19 and popular protests

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22 April 2020

UN/DESA Policy Brief #62: The COVID-19 pandemic: a wake-up call for better cooperation at the science?policy?society interface

Science and technology are essential to humanity?s collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the extent to which policymaking is shaped by scientific evidence and by technological possibilities varies across governments and societies, and can often be limited. At the same time, collaborations across science and technology communities have grown in response to the current crisis, holding promise for enhanced cooperation in the future as well. How can we improve the way in which science and technology are harnessed to resolve global challenges such as the current pandemic? This policy brief presents a set of recommendations towards this end, drawing upon the emerging response to the… UN/DESA Policy Brief #62: The COVID-19 pandemic: a wake-up call for better cooperation at the science?policy?society interface

20 April 2020

2020 CDP Report, ECOSOC and GA Resolutions

Report of the Committee for Development Policy (E/2020/33, Supplement No. 13)
عربي, 中文, English, Français, Русский, Español CDP excerpts on the report by theme
Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development
The voluntary national reviews of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The comprehensive review of the LDC criteria
Monitoring of countries that are graduating and have graduated from the list of least developed countries
Improved assistance for graduating and graduated least developed countries
Framework for the Programme of Action for least developed…

15 April 2020

UN/DESA Policy Brief #61: COVID-19: Embracing digital government during the pandemic and beyond

Sharing information It is vital for governments to provide accurate, useful and up-to-date information to people, particularly during times of crisis.? During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments started providing information on their national portals, mobile apps or through social media platforms. A review of the national portals of the 193 United Nations Member States showed that by 25 March 2020, 57 per cent (110 countries) have put in place some kind of information on COVID-19, while around 43 per cent (83 countries) did not provide any information; but a further analysis showed that by 8 April 2020, around 86 percent (167 countries) have included information and
guidance about COVID-… UN/DESA Policy Brief #61: COVID-19: Embracing digital government during the pandemic and beyond

15 April 2020

UN/DESA Policy Brief #60: Commodity exporters face mounting economic challenges as pandemic spreads

Urgent, preemptive measures needed to address twin economic and health crisis A simultaneous health and economic crisis is hitting the developed economies hard. The sequence will likely be different for developing countries, particularly for commodity-dependent economies in Africa and Latin America. This Brief analyzes the unique challenges these countries are already facing or will face as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads. COVID-19 has paralyzed the developed economies in Europe and North America during the past month. These economies account for more than 75 per cent of confirmed cases and 83 per cent of COVID-19 related deaths worldwide (Figure 1). The panic of contagion has forced entire… UN/DESA Policy Brief #60: Commodity exporters face mounting economic challenges as pandemic spreads

12 April 2020

Outcome of the comprehensive review of the LDC criteria

At the 2020 Plenary the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) finalized its multi-year programme on the comprehensive review of the LDC criteria. While confirming the basic concept of the criteria, it simplified their structure, expanded their coverage of structural impediments to sustainable development and strengthened their individual components. The refined criteria will be applied at the 2021 triennial review of the list of LDCs, utilizing the established graduation and inclusion rules. The Committee also strengthened the application of the criteria, including by expanding the additional information it uses before making recommendations for graduation. In the view of the Committee,…