Page 231 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

Bringing the Concept to Life

• Collection and analysis of data related to economic processes both
throughout the world economy and in individual countries and
regions;
• Preparation of recommendations to Member States;
• Elaboration of international agreements and standards;
• Coordination of the activities of Member States; and finally,
• Provision of technical assistance to States
• In recent years, many UN programmes have been reoriented to meet
the needs and demands of countries in transition, including Russia
today.

З. In the field of economic analysis, the studies prepared by the UN
deservedly enjoy a high reputation due to their quality and strict objectivity. An
important role in their preparation is played by the UN regional economic
commissions, including the Economic Commission for Europe, located in
Geneva. ECE publications, such as for instance the Economic Bulletin for
Europe, provide an in-depth analysis of the continent's trade and finance
situation, as well as the activities of sub-regional groups.

4. Numerous statistical compilations published by the United Nations are
a major source of data for economists dealing with comparative studies and the
world economy. It should be noted that most UN organizations have extensive
databases relating to their scope of activities. For example, the World Intellec-
tual Property Organization has created a database on patent law, the
International Telecommunication Union has set up a database on telecommu-
nication problems, etc. As a rule, access to this information is open to all.

5. As regards elaboration of recommendations, the experience of the UN is
very extensive, and interest in the advice of UN specialists is unmitigated. An
important advantage of such recommendations is that they are based on the
generalization of the world’s experience, i.e. information collected in many
countries of the world. In addition, the UN recommendations are free from
political bias or adherence to any one economic school. It is no coincidence
that the concept of sustainable economic development, elaborated at the UN,
has been adopted today in many countries of the world. It is also actively
discussed in Russia.

6. Many of the UN recommendations deal with the financial sector. For
example, UNCTAD has developed recommendations for economies in

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