Latest Major Publications

 

Report on the World Social Situation 2011: The Global Social Crisis

The-global-Social-Crisis

“The economic crisis reminds us that it is essential for people to be healthy, educated, adequately housed and well fed to be more productive and better able to contribute to society,” said Jomo Kwame Sundaram, DESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development. “Social policy should be an integral part of economic policy.” Read more

 

World Economic Situation and Prospects: Mid-2011 update

wesp2011_midyear_update

“The world economy continues to recover from the global economic crisis, but the pace remains uneven across countries,” said Rob Vos, Director of DESA’s Development Policy and Analysis Division, at a press conference to launch a mid-year update of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2011 today. Mr. Vos continued, “trade is recovering but at a moderate pace…commodity prices are surging, but remain highly volatile”. Read more

 

World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision

population_explosion_orr

The 2010 Revision of the World Population Prospects is the twenty-second round of global demographic estimates and projections undertaken by the Population Division of DESA. The world population prospects are used widely throughout the UN and by many international organizations, research centers, academic researchers and the media. This new revision was released on 3 May and key findings and projections were presented at a press conference in New York by Hania Zlotnik, Director of DESA’s Population Division. The next revision is due in the first part of 2013. Read more

 

Men in Families and Family Policy in a Changing World

men-in-families

The perceptions of the role of women and men in families have changed over the past few decades. Men are no longer perceived as the economic providers to families.  The role of men in the family has undergone many “diverse demographic, socio-economic and cultural transformations” impacting the formation, stability and overall well-being of families. In light of this development, DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) launched a new publication on “Men in Families and Family Policy in a Changing World” on 17 February focusing on the shifting roles and views of men in families. Read more

 

World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011

wesp201120cover1

The publication predicts weaker global growth in 2011 and 2012 as the recovery has lost momentum since the middle of 2010. World gross product is forecast to expand by 3.1 per cent in 2011 and 3.5 per cent in 2012, following estimated growth of 3.6 per cent in 2010. The report emphasizes that the outlook remains uncertain, surrounded by serious downside risks. It further indicates that, in the short run, more fiscal stimulus will be needed to reinvigorate the global recovery, but that it will need to be better coordinated with monetary policies and reoriented to provide stronger support to employment generation. Read more