Decent Work and Economic Growth
Children in the world of 2050
The three megatrends explored in the previous chapter will continue to have acute impacts on children’s lives in the years to come, but many other forces will also play a part.
Globalization at an inflection point
In a major challenge for developing countries, current global economic and geopolitical shifts in globalization could limit export-led growth strategies. Changing technology and market structure, ‘deglobalization’ and worsening security environment endanger development strategies based on expanded manufactured exports and some resource exports.
The macroeconomics of discontent
Global output growth shows signs of stabilizing at rates below those registered in the years prior to the pandemic, which itself marked a period of unsatisfactory global growth. Current growth trajectories are insufficient to meet global development and climate challenges and goals.
The global South and new international tax architecture: The quest for development finance
The ongoing initiative to establish the United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation offers an important opportunity for developing countries to close current gaps in the international financial architecture and embed sources of domestic revenue in their economies.
Acknowledgements
The Least Developed Countries Report 2024 was prepared by UNCTAD under the overall supervision of Paul Akiwumi, Director, Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, and Junior Roy Davis, Head, Policy Analysis and Research Branch, by Rolf Traeger (team leader), Benjamin Mattondo Banda, Stefan Csordas, Junior Roy Davis and Matfobhi Riba, assisted by Zakaria Jbilou, Siying Li, Elena Stroganova, Stefanie West, Bohan Yang and Yufei Zhang.
Acknowledgements
The Trade and Development Report 2024 was prepared by the Macroeconomic and Development Policies Branch of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), led by Anastasia Nesvetailova. Team members included Rami A. Alazzeh, Diana Barrowclough, Jeronim Capaldo, Lyubov Chumakova, Cambiz Daneshvar, Pierre Kohler, Nicolas Maystre and Dawei Wang.
Policy actions and conclusions
Foreword
As the world seeks innovative solutions to address the climate and finance crisis simultaneously and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, carbon markets have emerged as a beacon of hope. These markets are seen as enablers of climate ambition and catalysts of capital flows towards developing countries, offering a promising pathway to unlock sustainable development. As carbon markets take shape, in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and initiatives to enhance the integrity of the voluntary carbon market emerge, we are stepping into a future filled with potential and pitfalls.
Older persons and development
Older persons are beneficiaries of development, and contribute to it. In this context, the first priority direction of the Madrid Plan of Action discusses interlinkages between the two. It calls for providing older persons with opportunities to continue contributing to society; offering income-generating work; providing opportunities for accessing knowledge, education and training; eradicating poverty among older persons, in particular older women and persons with disabilities; and supporting intergenerational solidarity to build societies for all ages.