Monthly Briefing on the World Economic Situation and Prospects

Urgent and bold policy measures are needed, not only to contain the pandemic and save lives, but also to protect the most vulnerable in our societies.

Se requieren políticas urgentes y ambiciosas a fin de proteger a los más vulnerables y de favorecer la sostenibilidad

必须采取大胆、紧急的政策措施，以保护最弱势群体，推动可持续发展

Для защиты наиболее уязвимых групп населения и обеспечения устойчивости необходимы решительные и срочные меры политики

Gender gaps remain pervasive worldwide, constraining economic potential; most countries are not on track to achieve the SDG target 8.5 “equal pay for work of equal value” by 2030; eliminating gender inequalities requires legal reforms, financial incentives and shifts in societal attitudes

According to the WESP 2020, sluggish global growth threatens sustainable development; 1 in 5 countries will see per capita incomes stagnate or decline this year, notably in Africa, Latin America and parts of Western Asia; across the world, many policies continue to encourage the use of fossil fuels

As energy demand is rising globally, it is imperative to transition to clean energy; the status of natural gas as a “transition fuel” is waning; the automotive sector in Europe is undergoing dramatic changes

Lack of innovation a key structural challenge for many developing countries; economic diversification impeded by structural barriers in the CIS and Africa; weak productivity growth contributing to bleak economic outlook in Latin America

The global commodity price shock of 2014-2016 has caused setbacks in the fight against poverty; poverty eradication in Africa by 2030 is increasingly becoming out of reach; the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is exacerbating the poverty situation