In focus at DESA:

The core United Nations analysis of the financial crisis is presented in the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report. The WESP provides an overview of recent global economic performance and short-term prospects for the world economy and of some key global economic policy and development issues.

In addition, through its Monthly Briefing on the World Economic Situation and Prospects, DESA provides a regular update on the latest economic and social developments at the global and regional level. They are complemented by UN-DESA Policy Briefs on more specific policy issues and challenges. On the quantitative side, the Department generates crucial input for its macroeconomic reports through Project Link, which is a co-operative, non-governmental, international research activity.

In partnership with developing countries, development account projects aim at capacity-building to achieve a distinct development impact, including macroeconomic policy analysis on the impact of external shocks on poverty and social vulnerability. In addition, the MDG Gap Task Force represents more than 20 UN agencies and tracks commitments and their fulfillment in the areas of official development assistance, market access (trade) and debt relief.

A wide range of additional data is generated by DESA, including the global economic outlook data, LDC data and the WESP Annex tables.