E-Book Overview
According to the Survey, economic insecurity arises from the exposure of individuals, communities and countries to adverse events, and from their inability to cope with and recover from the downside losses. Local concerns have been compounded by new global threats as unregulated markets and climate change. The Survey offers a different approach with a strong social contract and more integrated and pragmatic economic and social policy. It calls for more active policy responses to help communities better manage these new risks, increased investment in preventing threatening events from emerging and more concerted efforts to strengthen the underlying social contracts which are, in the end, the real basis of a more secure, stable and just future.
E-Book Content
E/2008/50/Rev.1 ST/ESA/317
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
World Economic and Social Survey 2008
Overcoming economic insecurity
United Nations New York, 2008
DESA The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.
Note Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. E/2008/50/Rev.1 ST/ESA/317 ISBN 978-92-1-109157-1 United Nations publication Sales No. E.08.II.C.1 Copyright © United Nations, 2008 All rights reserved Printed by the United Nations Publishing Section New York
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Preface In rich and poor countries alike, economic security is under threat. Sixty years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed that everyone should have access to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, “…including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control” (article 25). Yet, despite considerable progress since then at all levels, heightened risks and new threats jeopardize a more secure future and the goal of achieving development for all. Climate change and the damage to economic livelihoods caused by natural disasters, whether droughts in Australia or floods in Bangladesh, are stark warnings of the consequences of complacency. Health pandemics, such as that of HIV/AIDS, raise similar concerns. Further, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities that are on the front line of exposure to these truly global threats. In 2008, rising food prices have triggered serious political unrest in a number of countries and led to renewed support for putting food security back in the international agenda. The recent financial turmoil in the world economy still threatens a sharp growth slowdown which will endanger livelihoods in rich and poor countries alike. The World Economic and Social Survey 2008 argues that unregulated markets have contributed to increased economic insecurity without providing adequate social protection. The Survey calls for a different approach—one that utilizes more proactive and coherent policy respons