UN DESA | DPAD | Development Policy Analysis Division

31 January 2012

World Economic Situation and Prospects: Monthly Briefing, No. 39

The January issue of the Monthly Briefing on the World Economic Situation and Prospects highlights several economic trends that developed in 2011. Over the course of the year, the momentum for economic growth faltered progressively, especially in developed countries, where unemployment remained elevated. Labour markets in a small number of economies in Asia have fully recovered from the economic crisis, but at the global level, high unemployment has become the Achilles’ heel of the recovery. Finally, global financial markets in 2011 were characterized by sharply heightened risks associated with sovereign debt distress in Europe. Equity, commodity and foreign exchange markets were also affected by the renewed turmoil.

31 January 2012

The report on the Project LINK Meeting 2011, held on 24-26 October in New York, is now available. The report summarizes the presentations and discussions that took place during the meeting. Topics discussed included the global and regional economic outlook for 2012-2013, the way forward after the global financial crisis and the sovereign debt crisis and the prospects for international commodity markets.

20 January 2012

Join DPAD Director Rob Vos and DPAD's Global Economic Monitoring Unit on Friday, 20 January, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am EST for a live Facebook chat on the world economy. Post your questions on http://on.fb.me/wesp2012 or at Twitter #WESP2012.

19 January 2012

The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012 launched today in Bangkok and Beirut.

18 January 2012

Rob Vos, DPAD Director, launched the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012 today in Mexico City. The report indicates that economic growth is expected to slow in 2012 in most Latin American countries, with GDP growth projected at 3.6 per cent in South America (down from 4.6 per cent in 2011), 2.7 per cent in Mexico and Central America (down from 3.8 per cent) and 3.6 per cent in the Caribbean (up from 3.4 per cent).

17 January 2012

DESA's flagship report on the world economy, World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012, launched today in Addis Ababa, Beijing, Geneva, Johannesburg, Moscow and New Delhi. The report highlights that economic slowdown is expected to continue into 2012 and 2013. The United Nations baseline forecast for the growth of world gross product (WGP) is 2.6 per cent for 2012 and 3.2 per cent for 2013, which is below the pre-crisis pace of global growth. Failure of policymakers in developed countries to address unemployment and prevent sovereign debt distress and financial sector fragility from escalating has posed the most acute risk for the global economy in the outlook for 2012-2013, with renewed global recession being a distinct possibility.

17 January 2012

The present policy responses to the world's current economic woes are highly inadequate. Europe and the United States are mainly fixated on reducing large fiscal deficits and public debt. The concerns are serious, and the ongoing sovereign debt crises in the euro zone have been a source of continuous turmoil in financial markets. Is there an alternative? Yes. Find out more in UN-DESA Policy Brief No. 36: Can a protracted slowdown be avoided?

16 January 2012

Expert group meeting on the Review of the list of least developed countries, 16-17 January 2012, New York.

12 January 2012

A multi-city launch will be held for the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012, DESA’s flagship report on the world economy: 17 January in Addis Ababa, Beijing, Geneva, Johannesburg, Moscow, New Delhi; 18 January in Mexico City; 19 January in Bangkok and Beirut.