World Economic and Social Survey 2017: Reflecting on seventy years of development policy analysis

Organization(s): UNDESA
Year: 2017
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The World Economic and Social Survey 2017 reviews the seventy-year history of a flagship publication, the oldest continuing report of its kind. The objective of this review is to draw lessons from the past that are relevant to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Over the course of seven decades, Survey analyses have been underpinned by an understanding of development as structural transformation driven by national policy decisions and influenced by the global economic environment.

The present edition of the Survey highlights the importance for achieving sustainable development of a stable global economy supported by coordinated global actions, well-functioning international trade and monetary systems, respect for national policy space, international solidarity and strengthened national capacity for development planning.

In today’s world of subdued growth, the urgent task is to strengthen the capacity for globally coordinated policy actions to enable the resumption of healthy growth in the world economy, with employment creation and social development as goals under the global agenda for sustainable development.

Link to overview (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)

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