Kunal Sen joins ESCAP Expert Group Meeting on the Countries with Special Needs Development Report 2024

On 1 December UNU-WIDER Director, Kunal Sen, joins the ESCAP Expert Group Meeting on their flagship publication, the Countries with Special Needs Development Report 2024. Prof. Sen's presentation contributes to discussions on the evolving role of the services sector, drawing on research from his recent open-access book, Varieties of structural change.

The Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs (CSN) Development Report assesses the development challenges for least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) in the region. These countries are collectively referred to as countries in special situations (CSS) and are the most vulnerable developing countries due to multidimensional impediments. Their economies are marked by persistent structural development challenges, fluctuating economic growth and heavy dependence on a limited number of commodities or low-wage manufactured products for export earnings.

The Countries with Special Needs Development Report 2024 will explore the nexus between digitalization and automation and the two important parameters of productivity and decent employment in countries in special situations.