More from UN DESA - March 2021

Global Policy Dialogue: Improving access to safe food and water

Today, about 1 in 3 people live without safe drinking water, and almost 1 billion people suffer from hunger. What’s more, ensuring food and water security for all by 2030 is severely affected by environmental shocks, that are all intensified by climate change.

Private savings are largely funding mounting public debt

To fight the COVID-19 economic crisis, developed and developing countries have implemented the most extensive economic stimulus packages in history. Public debt soared to record levels in many countries. In parallel, central banks shifted to highly accommodative policy stances with historically low interest rates and accelerated asset purchases.

While there are compelling arguments for rolling out further fiscal stimulus to minimize the economic impact of the pandemic and accelerate recovery, soaring public debt levels present serious concerns.