The Doha Development Agenda of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO opened many contentious and important questions. 'Global Economic Prospects 2004' analyzes the most critical multilateral trade issues and suggests policy options that would raise living standards in developing countries and reduce global poverty. The fourteenth annual edition of 'Global Economic Prospects': explores the short-, medium-, and long-term outlook for the global economy, including driving forces, commodity prices, and capital flows, and their implications for major regions. reviews recent trends in exports...

While the multilateral WTO talks remain mired in contentious debate, new bilateral and regional preferential trading arrangements are mushrooming all over the globe. The surge in regional trading arrangements prompts many questions that the Global Economic Prospects 2005 takes up: what type of regional and bilateral arrangements are most beneficial--and which types stifle development? do these agreements inspire deeper integration that multilateral trade agreements cannot? do they contribute to--or detract from--incentives for countries to engage in the multilateral Doha trade talks?

'Global Economic Prospects 2008: Technology Diffusion in the Developing World' examines the state of technology in developing countries and the pace with which it has advanced since the early 1990s. It reveals both encouraging and cautionary trends. On the one hand, the pace of technological progress in developing countries has been much faster than in high-income countries-reflecting increased exposure to foreign technology as a result of linkages with high-skilled diasporas and the opening of these countries to international trade and foreign direct investment.On the other hand, the...

As in previous years, global growth disappointed in 2014, but a lackluster recovery is underway, with increasingly divergent prospects in major economies and developing countries. Looking ahead, growth is expected to rise slowly, supported by continued recovery in high-income countries, low oil prices, and receding domestic headwinds in developing economies. However, continued weak global trade growth and gradually tightening financial conditions will constrain the recovery. Risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside. In addition to discussing global and regional economic developments...

Global growth is expected to be 2.8 percent in 2015, but is expected to pick up to 3.2 percent in 2016-17. Growth in developing countries and some high-income countries is set to disappoint again this year. The prospect of rising borrowing costs will compound the challenges many developing countries are facing as they adapt to an era of low commodity prices. Risks to this outlook remain tilted to the downside. This edition of Global Economic Prospects includes two Special Features that analyze the policy challenges raised by the two transitions in developing countries: the risks associated...

Global activity is firming broadly as expected. Manufacturing and trade are picking up, confidence is improving, international financing conditions remain benign, and commodity prices are stabilizing. Growth in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) is set to recover, as obstacles to growth in commodity exporters diminish, while activity in commodity importers remains robust. Risks to the global outlook remain tilted to the downside. These include increased trade protectionism, elevated economic policy uncertainty, the possibility of financial market disruptions, and, over the...

Stagnant global trade, subdued investment, and heightened policy uncertainty marked another difficult year for the world economy. A moderate recovery is expected for 2017, with receding obstacles to activity in commodity-exporting emerging market and developing economies. Weak investment is weighing on medium-term prospects across many emerging market and developing economies. Although fiscal stimulus in major economies, if implemented, may boost global growth above expectations, risks to growth forecasts remain tilted to the downside. Important downside risks stem from heightened policy...