Data is shaping the future of humanity. The production, distribution and consumption of digital data-the data economy-are driving rapid advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence and automation. Individuals and businesses are using data to reduce search and transaction costs and make informed choices.

The global economy is facing a confluence of risks, which could severely disrupt economic activity and inflict significant damage on longer-term development prospects. These risks include an escalation of trade disputes, an abrupt tightening of global financial conditions, and intensifying climate risks.

WESP 2019 highlights that economic progress remains highly uneven across the world Downside risks to the global growth outlook have increased Waning support for multilateralism may limit the capacity for collaborative policies in the event of a sharp g ...

Dawn Holland, Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, participated in a panel discussion on Global Economy in 2019: What Policymakers Need to Know, organized by the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C. The discussion was hosted by Mr. Masood Ahmed, President, Center for Global Development and panelists included Ayhan Kose, Director, Prospects Group, World Bank; Anne-Marie Gulde, Deputy Director, African Department, International Monetary Fund; Liliana Rojas-Suarez, Senior Fellow and Director of the Latin America Initiative, Center for Global Development; and Sudhir Shetty, Chief Economist, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank.

1 January 2019 marked the change of membership of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP). The 24 members of the CDP, nominated by the United Nations Secretary-General and appointed by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), will serve on the Comm ...

On 22 January, UN DESA will launch the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019, providing a detailed analysis of the driving forces behind the global economic growth. Our future – not only in economic terms – will depend on our ability to work together at this critical juncture. Watch the launch live 22 January, 2019 11 am EDT webtv.un.org