PHM-Exch> The Global Social Crisis - UN Report on the World Social Situation 2011

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


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*The Global Social Crisis*

*Report on the World Social Situation 2011

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*Department of Economic and Social Affairs - ST/ESA/334*

United Nations - ****New York****, 2011

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Available online PDF [129p.] at: http://bit.ly/jgdUOk

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‘….The global economic downturn has had wide-ranging negative social
outcomes for individuals, families, communities and societies, and its
impact on social progress in areas such as education and health will only
become fully evident over time. During times of financial and economic
crisis, households often adopt coping strategies, such as making changes in
household expenditure patterns; however, these can negatively influence
education, health and nutrition outcomes, which may lead to lifelong
deficits for the children affected and thus perpetuate the intergenerational
transmission of poverty.****


Given the fragility of the economic recovery and the uneven progress in
major economies, social conditions are expected to recover only slowly. The
increased levels of poverty, hunger and unemployment will continue to affect
billions of people for years to come. Meanwhile, austerity measures in
response to high government debt in some advanced economies are also making
the recovery more uncertain and fragile….”

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*Contents*

Overview ****

Beyond recovery: addressing the social crisis****

The continuing social crisis****

Addressing the crisis: the way forward****

Role of Government****

Focus on employment growth****

Need for social protection****

Poverty and food security****

Rethinking social policy

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*I. The Global Economic Crisis: Causes and Transmission* ****

Impact, response and recovery****

International response averts deeper recession****

Recovery: tepid, uneven and uncertain****

Background****

****United States**** crisis becomes global****

Trade****

Tourism****

International " nance****

Development aid****

Remittances****

Concluding remarks: bleak prospects for social development****

*II. The Great Recession and the Jobs Crisis *

Employment impacts****

Informal and vulnerable employment****

Working poor****

Impact of the crisis on wages and salaries****

Adverse impacts on demographic and social groups****

Impacts on household dynamics and human development****

Concluding remarks: the jobs crisis persists****

*III. Incomes, Poverty and Well-being *

The context of the crisis ****

Income poverty****

Health****

Education****

Impact of crises on social indicators****

Evidence from previous crises****

! e impact of the food crisis****

Much depends on the pace of recovery****

Social integration and crime****

Concluding remarks: full impact unfolding****

*IV. The Global Food Crises *

Food prices remain volatile and high****

Social impacts of the food crisis****

Underlying causes of the global food price spike****

Speculation in commodity futures****

Higher energy prices and demand for biofuels****

Trade liberalization****

Long-term problems ****

Other longer-term trends****

U-turn in ****Washington****?****

Concluding remarks: urgent action needed****

*V. Crises, Fiscal Space and National Response *

Impact on fiscal space****

Effects on social spending****

Education spending****

Spending on health and social protection****

Spending on infrastructure and agriculture****

Policy responses to the crisis: an overview****

Social protection and labour market measures****

Policy responses to the food crisis****

Concluding remarks: policy space is crucial****

*VI. International Responses *

Crisis response of the Group of Twenty****

Responses of the International Monetary Fund****

Policy responses to the food crisis****

Concluding remarks: a balance between stimulus and austerity****

Bibiliography

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