UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY PUBLIC FORUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Press Release
UNU/176
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY PUBLIC FORUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
19960426 NEW YORK, 25 April (UNU) -- The United Nations University's next Public Forum will beheld on Monday, 29 April, from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., at Headquarters in Conference Room 6. The Forum's focus will be a newly initiated research programme entitled "Targets and Criteria for Viable Socio-Economic Development". Dr. Toru Yanagihara, Professor of Economics at Hosei University, visiting scholar at the University's headquarters in Tokyo, and coordinator of the project, will present an overview of the programme. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion which will include the participation of Ambassador Samuel R. Insanally of the Permanent Mission of Guyana; Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Director of the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and Inge Kaul, UNDP Director of the Office of Development Studies. Staff of the United Nations, the permanent missions, non-governmental organizations and the press, as well as members of the academic community, are invited to attend. One major challenge in the identification of common targets and measurements for global development is the incorporation of diverse social aspects into what is assumed to be "universal" economic indices. Given that each society has its own social fabric and unique local institutions, any quantification of various dimensions poses problems. Nevertheless, no development target or index would be satisfactory without widely applicable, tangible social measurements.Against this backdrop, the United Nations University recently initiated an indepth interdisciplinary study which seeks to: review the effectiveness and applicability of existing development indices; produce tangible social indices; construct a new formula for socially viable development measurement; and build consensus and internationally agreed upon goals and criteria for sustainable development. The project should lead to recommendations on a new development strategy. The Public Forum series is intended to disseminate information on research undertaken by the University in an effort to stimulate discussion on policy alternatives, and to provide the opportunity for the exchange of views between practitioners and scholars to identify possible areas of research for the University.
Further information may be obtained from: United Nations University, Office in North America; tel: 212-963-6387; fax: 212-371-9454; E-mail: unuona@igc.apc.org.
* *** *