Whether time moves linearly or circularly, is subject to debate in the natural and social sciences. Meanwhile, the FFD4 process suggests the primacy of circularity, at least when reading the draft outcome document’s references to “Official Development Assistance” (ODA). In brief, the document calls for scaling up the volume of ODA (colloquially foreign aid) along…
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The upcoming Financing for Development (FfD) conference will address major challenges hindering the efforts of developing countries towards sustainable development. The Group of 77 (G77) – a key platform for the Global South in the UN – will play an important role in bringing the interests and demands of the Global South forward. …
These are not easy times to think about reforming or even rebuilding the international cooperation architecture to meet the challenges facing humanity. When international law is bluntly disregarded, multilateral institutions get openly attacked and institutions for global solidarity are dismantled, it is only natural to defend what has been achieved as far as possible and,…
The first two sentences delivered by the U.S. representative at the 3rd session of FfD4 Preparatory Committee (3rd PrepCom) last week were already tough ones: “At the outset, I underscore that the United States is currently evaluating its membership and participation in all international organisations and processes. Thus, we are reserving on the whole draft…
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) needs to address the issue of tax expenditures. These preferential tax treatments cause huge immediate public revenue losses while their effectiveness is often in doubt. Governments worldwide use preferential tax treatments – called tax expenditures – to pursue different policy objectives, such as attracting investments, promoting…