Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Social and Economic Policy
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Government Technology
When founding the United Nations in 1945, member states agreed to work together to promote “economic and social advancement of all peoples.” But sixty years later, poverty and income inequality are on the rise, many people endure terrible working conditions, and the world population faces an alarming environmental crisis. While the UN and its related institutions do much to promote development, other powerful institutions and actors dominate the global economic system. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization wield tremendous power over global social and economic policy. But these actors generally represent the interests of the rich while excluding the voices of the poor. Transnational corporations are also gaining increasing influence, with some of the biggest enjoying larger annual income than many low- and medium-income countries. Meanwhile, most UN member states fail to live up to promises of increased international aid and funding for hunger emergencies. Over 150 governments have ratified the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, but some major greenhouse gas emitters like the United States have not, thereby rapidly accelerating the global climate crisis. Many NGOs call for reform of the global economic system, including debt relief, international aid, and global taxes that can fund development while at the same time curbing carbon emissions or stabilizing the global financial system. They call for a fair international trade system, international regulation of corporate activity to ensure basic labor and human rights and environmental standards, and a stronger role for the UN in global social and economic policy.
Picture Credit: United Nations
Picture Credit: International Council on Social Welfare
Picture Credit: Associated Press
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Picture Credit: Business Week Social and Economic Policy at the UN
This section looks at the United Nations work on social and economic policy, with a focus on relevant UN reform debates.The Three Sisters and Other Institutions
This section posts information on the most influential international actors and institutions in global social and economic policy, including the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO, and the G7/G8. The section also covers internal critics of the World Bank and the IMF.Poverty and Development
This section posts articles, documents and other information on development issues, including on health, the millennium development goals, and more.World Hunger
This section looks at world hunger and economic, environmental, health and security-related root causes of hunger. The section also focuses the lack of funding for hunger emergencies and other challenges of food aid.Financing for Development
This section links to information on development financing, including aid, trade, debt relief and foreign direct investment. The section also covers alternative development financing such as global taxes.International Trade and Development
This section covers international trade issues, including information on how trade affects development, regional trade agreements, UNCTAD and agricultural subsidies.International Aid
This page provides information on different aspects of international aid and development, including on the Central Emergency Response Fund and hunger emergency aid.Debt Relief
This section looks at the debt crisis and explores the need for international debt relief.Global Taxes
This section explores global taxes, including currency transaction taxes and energy taxes, and their dual role as policy instruments and as revenue sources for development.Global Injustice and Inequality
This section looks at global injustice and inequality, including growing wealth and income inequality, gender inequality and the crisis of labor and workplace rights.The Environment
This section touches on key environmental issues and the role of the UN, governments, businesses and NGOs in shaping environmental policy.Global Public Goods
This section posts materials on global public goods. Clean environment, health, knowledge, property rights, peace and security are all examples of public goods that could be made global.Labor Rights and Labor Movements
This section posts information on labor rights and labor movements around the world.Transnational Corporations
This section explores how TNCs dominate the global economy and exert their influence over global policymaking, including the increasing influence of corporations at the UN.Bubble Capitalism: Corporate Crisis, US Deficits and Fall of the Dollar
This section contains materials on the weakening of the dollar and rapidly increasing deficits in the US. The section also posts information on corporate scandals, including accounting scams and insider trading schemes.
Resources, Tables and Charts
World Conclaves and Conferences
This section provides coverage of selected international meetings and conferences, such as the WTO ministerial meetings, the World Economic Forums, and UN global conferences.Social and Economic Policy Resources
This page provides links and resources on global social and economic policy.Tables and Charts on Social and Economic Policy
This page provides data on global social and economic policy issues, including poverty and development, foreign aid, hunger relief, international trade, gender inequality and US trade and fiscal balances.
