Cross-posted from: EQUIDAD@listserv.paho.org
This is a very important report. I have just sent it, with a few of my own annotations, to all the members of the Scientific Resource Group on Health Equity Analysis and Research (http://www.who.int/social_determinants/implementation/srg/en/), which WHO has inexplicably and inexcusably decided to 'sunset' after the Rio conference in October.
Ted Schrecker
mailto:tschreck@uottawa.ca
------------------------------
The Global Social Crisis
Report on the World Social Situation 2011
Department of Economic and Social Affairs - ST/ESA/334
United Nations - New York, 2011
Available online PDF [129p.] at: http://bit.ly/jgdUOk
‘….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….”
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
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
--
Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)
mailto:ruglucia@paho.org