 SID's quarterly journal Development devotes a double issue to explore key challenges and possible ways forward to advance the Financing for Development (FfD) process. Leading experts and civil society activists working on debt, trade, aid, tax, finance, infrastructure and development, present their views and critiques about the dominant forces shaping the FfD agenda today. In a context of policy regression and resistance to change at global level, this journal issue aims to contribute visions and pathways for a progressive normative agenda for financing sustainable development that is coherent, transformational and human rights based.
The FfD follow up process provides a critical window of opportunity to advance the democratization of global economic governance and shift its centre of gravity closer to the United Nations. However, developing countries call for a global intergovernmental tax body or for an international debt workout mechanism are regularly rejected by developed countries who would rather continue to build and strengthen their own institutions or those they control. At the same time, resistance to address systemic issues and policy coherence limit the fiscal and policy space of developing countries to advance their development actions, despite the pressure to advance national implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Journal authors expose to the prevarication of finance over the economy, the pervasive corporate bias and the widespread over-reliance on public-private partnerships as some of the disrupting trends contributing to the progressive commodification of rights, the blurring of lines between private and public, and the increasing abdication of states’ responsibilities. Beyond critique, they also point out to concrete possible ways forward to advance a progressive agenda.
Browse the table of contents and read the free to view articles below.
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