Democratic Governance: Responding to the Development Crisis
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e-Consultation: Democratic Governance Responses to the Governance, Economic and Financial Crisis.
The recent globalization of the financial crisis to the middle, emerging and developing countries has led to major setbacks in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and in human development. The weakening of the world economy threatens to reverse some of the progress made in the various dimensions of human development and has potentially serious impacts on developing countries’ stability, growth potentials, and reduction of poverty and inequality.
Through this e-consultation, we seek to learm from colleagues' experiences of the economic and financial crisis in their countries, programmes and projects as well as discuss actions taken and/or possible strategies for a recovery grounded in capable and functioning democratic governance principles and institutions.<o:p></o:p>
It is becoming more apparent that the financial crisis is affecting some countries differently both in the developing and the developed world. For instance, the crisis is seriously impacting specific economic sectors, in particular export-oriented sectors such as the garment and tourism industries, as a result of weakening demands for such goods and services in developed countries. Another example can be drawn from [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/business/worldbusiness/26thaitourism.html?partner=rss&emc=rss%29. Thailand’s tourism sector] which is said to not only be affected by the political turmoil, but also by the global economic slow-down. Finally, it has been reported that [http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3636857,00.htm in Israel 60 percent of recent months’ layoffs are women] and that the country is experiencing a 50 percent rise in dismissal of pregnant women as a result of the economic crisis .<o:p></o:p>
The crisis has an impact on the government budget and spending priorities, reducing the fiscal space of government to be able to both provide for an economic stimulus package and maintain or increase its spending on education, health, water and sanitation, and other crucial social support to those who have lost their jobs.
We are inviting you to send us concrete examples on how the crisis has impacted, or is impacting governance instiutions and processes.<o:p></o:p>
Questions to be answered.
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We look forward to your ideas, observations, experiences, and insights. Please share your responses by replying to this message.
