The World Economic and Social Survey is celebrating 70 years of publication!
The Survey is the oldest continuing publication dedicated to recording and analyzing the performance of the global economy and global development while offering relevant policy recommendations. The first World Economic and Social Survey was called the “Economic Report: Salient Features of the World Economic Situation 1945-47”, launched at Lake Success, NY in January 1948. Over the 70 years, the Survey has taken on different names. In 1947, it was called the Economic Report; and from 1948 to 1954, the World Economic Report. In 1955, the publication was renamed the World Economic Survey. Since 1994, it has been called the World Economic and Social Survey. The year 1999 marked the launching of a companion publication entitled World Economic Situation and Prospects.
Since the publication of the first issue, the World Economic and Social Survey has promoted a broader understanding of development, emphasizing the importance of advancing the structural transformation of the economy, progress in social development and environmental sustainability.
This year’s edition, reflecting on 70 years of development policy analysis, shows that many parallels can be drawn between the challenges currently facing the international community and those that confronted the world in the past. These lessons from the past are relevant to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, the Survey highlights the importance of a stable global economy supported by coordinated global actions, well-functioning international trade and monetary systems, respect for national policy space, international solidarity and development planning.
Watch the launch of the World Economic and Social Survey 2017 on 13 July 2017, 11 am EDT at webtv.un.org.
Further information here.