Development Research Branch (DRB)

The World Economic and Social Survey 2018 reviews the advances in frontier technologies – automation, robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, biotechnologies and artificial intelligence – and analyses their economic, social and environmental impact. These technologies possess immense potential for fostering growth, prosperity and environmental sustainability and accelerating the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Senior Economic Affairs Officer Mariangela Parra-Lancourt in EAPD’s Development Research Branch discussed the key findings of the upcoming flagship publication, World Economic and Social Survey 2018: Frontier Technologies for Sustainable Development at +Cartagena, the Latin American Summit on Communication + Creativity + Innovation + Marketing held in Cartagena, Colombia from 3-5 October 2018. Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia, opened the Summit with a presentation on the “Orange Economy”, a vision for a Creative Economy. 

The World Economic and Social Survey 2018 reviews the advances in frontier technologies – automation, robotics, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, biotechnologies and artificial intelligence – and analyses their economic, social and environmental impact. Join Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Liu Zhenmin, and Chief of the Development Research Branch at UN/DESA, Hamid Rashid, at the launch of the Survey on Monday, 8 October 2018 2018, 11 am EDT.

Alex Julca, Economic Affairs Officer in the Development Research Branch attended the 6th International Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rome, Italy on 12-13 September 2018. The conference provided an opportunity for a thorough understanding of structural and technological challenges that many countries face, while addressing poverty reduction, quality economic growth, health inequalities, climate risks, water-energy-land linkages, and skills upgrade and diversification-related challenges. 

The Economic Analysis and Policy Division of UN DESA collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme, UN Regional Commissions, international organizations, as well as universities and research institutions, to develop modelling methodologies ...

Access to knowledge and technology have contributed to solutions for environmental, social, and economic problems. From opening new options for renewable energy, to revolutionizing the delivery of government services, improving health care, and creating new jobs, technology impacts almost everyone’s lives.

A decade has passed since the initial onset of the global financial crisis. Following a protracted period of sub-par growth, the global economy has strengthened as the effects of cyclical headwinds and crisis-related legacies dissipate.

Will the blockchain technology that underlies cryptocurrencies fundamentally transform the interactions across industries? On February 1, our Development Strategy and Policy Analysis Unit will be hosting a Development Policy Seminar on the Frontier Issue of “Understanding Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Crypto Economy”.

An Expert Group Meeting on Emerging Technologies and Sustainable Development was held in New York on December 14 and 15 to discuss the background, objectives and outline of the World Economic and Social Survey 2018.