http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/ http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae6a03208efc01.php UNCTAD's analyses of global macro-economic issues from a development perspective have regularly provided alternative views to that offered by the World Bank and the IMF controlled by the west. Now Western countries threaten the mandate of UNCTAD's secretariat to analyse macro-economic issues. In a statement former senior officials of UNCTAD speak out a strong warning against this move to stifle a critical voice. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae6a02c0a9c401.php Heads of state from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa signed an accord to promote intra-BRICS trade in local currencies and proposed the creation of a new development bank to mobilise resources in the five-country group. Furthermore, the Delhi Declaration demands a major overhaul of the Bretton Woods institutions. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae6a0240e10e01.php In an Open Letter an international coalition of over 400 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from 67 countries is challenging the preparation process for UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio+20 scheduled to take place 22 to 24 June in Rio. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae6a0210e99b01.php The period for submitting nominations for the position of the next President of the World Bank closed on Friday, 23 March. The race is on. Three candidates take part: Jim Yong Kim from the US, José Antonio Ocampo from Columbia, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria. Among civil society the candidates provoked already diverging views. WDEV documents comments by Peter Bosshard and Kevin Gallagher. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae6a0061162501.php History often repeats itself - sometimes as a tragedy, sometimes as a farce. Some editorials over the past few weeks have referred to the Maldives' 2008 elections as a precursor of the Arab spring, now reversed; others are puzzled by the rapidity with which the international community acknowledged the new President, and abandoned ex-president Nasheed. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae6a0010a5a501.php Marking the 30th anniversary of one of the world's more influential economic annuals experts pointed out that themes long sounded in UNCTAD's Trade and Development Report retain current prominence - particularly those citing the questionable wisdom of unbridled free markets. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae69ffb0a48102.php In an open letter a global coalition of development activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is calling on the World Bank's governors to ensure that the next president is chosen in an "open and merit-based process" that will give borrowing countries a major say in the selection. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae69fd20e9a40c.php After decades of isolation - imposed by major OECD countries out of concern for the country's human rights violations - Myanmar is emerging as a new darling of the "West" - judging by the accelerating succession of visits by senior officials and gurus. New groups of investors are waiting to enter the country as soon as possible. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae69fbf0faec01.php Persistent high unemployment, the euro area debt crisis and premature fiscal austerity have already slowed global growth and factor into the possibility of a new recession. Now the United Nations have downgraded significantly its forecasts for the world economy in the next year. 2012-05-08 http://www.world-economy-and-development.de/printable/wearchiv/042ae69fb00d7f501.php Eastern European states are in for a new round of the crisis. The external control of the banking sector and high reliance on external credit has landed the countries of Eastern Europe in a vulnerable position. Now, credit flows from Western banks are drying up again. Hungary has been the first country in the region to ask for IMF support again. 2012-05-08