World economy. [Critical evaluation of United Nations study]

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Environment; (United States)

OSTI ID:5249541

McCaull, J

This review examines a United Nations report on the world economy. The report is important in that it presents a document that will dominate formal world debate on how material resources can be more equitably distributed among people. The methodology by which the analysis is made is impressive and useful. The difficulty is that the methodology is used almost exclusively in the context of traditional free-market-economy considerations. This context, in effect, assumes that the world prefers doing business with a ''company store'' in which the relationships among credit, merchandise, and labor are determined by traditional Western free-market-economy patterns. The dilemma is that those patterns have caused many of the very problems addressed in the United Nations report, and the report suggests no substantive corrective remedies--only more of the same, on a larger scale. At the same time, the study offers no alternatives, such as localized versus internationally controlled development. This article was begun as an announcement about the availability of the United Nations study, entitled The Future of the World Economy (Oxford University Press, New York, 1977). It became clear, however, that a critical evaluation was needed as well. The attempt in this review is to inform Environment readers about the content of the report and to suggest alternative subjects for the discussion which will be occasioned by the United Nations study.

• OSTI ID: 5249541
• Journal Information: Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 19:8; ISSN ENVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
COMMODITIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMY
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
INCOME
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MONOPOLIES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SOCIOLOGY
TRADE
UNITED NATIONS