Appendix 2: Sustainable Development Theory and National Development Strategy

Author(s):  
Norbert Musekiwa ◽  
David Mandiyanike

This paper considers how the Botswana government could use the experiences of implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to localise their successor Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country’s new development strategy Vision 2036. Despite the recentralisation of some elements of service delivery (water, education, and health) reversing the decentralisation trend, Botswana attained respectable successes in achieving MDG targets. The localisation of development goals must however go beyond simply establishing effective and efficient decentralised local government units, to implementing local economic development strategies that enable communities to take an active role in national development processes. The primary question that this discussion paper seeks to answer is: can Botswana utilise lessons learnt in implementing the MDGs to the SDGs, to foster an empowered local community? The paper highlights how community empowerment is particularly critical in Botswana; on the one hand given the current over-dependence of the economy on a limited number of extractive, finite mineral resources, and on the other because of the multi-dimensional character of poverty and high income inequality afflicting Botswanans. The call for greater decentralisation in Botswana’s Vision 2036 provides a good example for the Commonwealth as it goes beyond the SDGs’ target date of 2030. KeywordsBotswana; Millennium Development Goals; Sustainable Development Goals; Vision 2036.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1017-1038
Author(s):  
V.V. Smirnov

Subject. The article investigates financial flows. Objectives. The study is to determine directions of financial flows in global social and economic entities. Methods. I rely upon the systems approach and methods of descriptive statistics. Results. The article illustrates the importance of national interests in financial flows of global social and economic entities. I emphasize that finance is a factor determining the importance of national interests. Finance mirrors the national development and opportunities of a social and economic entity to protect its sovereignty. Sustainable development seems to be the ground for solving any issues of national interests as part of financial flows of social and economic entities. This may be feasible through fund raising. I determined directions of financial flows streaming to socialist and capitalist social and economic entities. In Russia capitalist social and economic entities emerge due to a positively-skewed distribution of values around the average growth rate of direct investment in non-financial assets and portfolio investment, and a negatively-skewed distribution, i.e. military spending, inflation, fiscal revenue and general reserves net of gold. The article highlights that Russia and China have similar economic views on poverty and equality. Conclusions and Relevance. As global economic ties transform and controversies concerning the world order escalate, capitalist economies disregard the specifics of the social and economic paradigm and national interests of other countries. Such controversies can be eliminated if multiple economic interests are simplified. Sustainable development and respective goals seem to offer a solution to national interests as part of financial flows of social and economic entities. The findings unveil opportunities for exercising national interests in global social and economic entities by regulating a source of financial flows, generating new competencies for managerial decision-making on sustainable development goals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 929-949
Author(s):  
A.M. Chernysheva

Subject. After the collapse of the USSR, smaller countries chose different paths in their economic policy during the globalization and the multipolar world. The EU, USA and Russia made a palpable contribution to the economic policy of smaller countries. Some countries of the former USSR failed to find their course, while the others immediately followed their development strategy and stuck to it persistently. Objectives. I examine the economics of the monodirectional strategy of smaller countries of the former USSR. I also evaluate how the countries found their position among different leading countries as points of attraction. The study is based on the assumption that the single direction of the national development and adherence to the same point of attraction will ensure the sustainable development. However, the economic development level depends on the health of a certain economy as a point of attraction. Methods. The study is based on the systems approach, comparative and statistical methods for analyzing macroeconomic data series. Results. I investigated the dynamics of key macroeconomic data in the Republic of Belarus, Latvia and Estonia, such as GDP per capita in current values, unemployment rate and Purchasing Power Index. Given the current phase of globalization and multipolar world, it is crucial for smaller countries to choose a development strategy to follow persistently and achieve proper macroeconomic indicators that depend on the economic stability of counties they treat as their benchmarks. Conclusions and Relevance. I should mention the successful economic policy of Estonia and Latvia, which followed the same course as the other EU countries, as opposed to the Republic of Belarus tending to the policy of the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, the monodirectional development strategy also helps smaller countries ensure their economic stability.


Author(s):  
Stephany Griffith-Jones ◽  
José Antonio Ocampo ◽  
Paola Arias

Based on the seven case studies analysed in this volume, this chapter concludes that national development banks (NDBs) have been successful in many cases in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, key new sectors like renewable energy, and financial inclusion. They have developed new instruments, such as far greater use of guarantees, equity (including venture capital) and debt funds, and new instruments for financial inclusion. The context in which they operate is key to their success. Active countercyclical policies, low inflation, fairly low real interest rates, a well-functioning financial sector, and competitive exchange rates are crucial. They are also more effective if the country has a clear development strategy, linked to production sector strategies that foster innovative sectors. Under these conditions, the chapter argues that there is great need for a larger scale of NDB activity in Latin America and in developing countries in general.


Author(s):  
Abdul-Jalil Ibrahim ◽  
Nasim Shah Shirazi

Abstract Background Qatar’s per capita consumption of both energy and water is among the highest in the world. Documentation of methods to reduce energy and water use and its impact on the environment is crucial. A circular economy (CE) ensures that economic growth must not necessarily lead to more resource consumption. Materials and methods This study aims to discuss the CE approach with a focus on understanding the interdependencies between energy and water and their impact on the environment. The study explores the energy-water-environment nexus and how Qatar can leverage this to transition to a CE. The policy landscape and strategies related to energy and water use sectors are presented, addressing efficiencies and substitutes from a circular economic viewpoint. Results The findings show that electricity and mobility sectors(energy perspective of the CE) and agriculture and water supply system (water perspective of the CE) of the Qatari economy provide an opportunity for regeneration, virtualising, exchanging, optimising, sharing and closing loops to achieve CE growth. Conclusions The nexus between the mobility, electricity, agriculture and water supply system needs consideration for optimal policy outcome for the CE in Qatar. The study recommends a need to embark on public awareness on moving away from linear economic to the circular economic paradigm and developing a comprehensive policy on Qatar’s circular economic approach that consolidates the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2018–2022 to provide policy clarity and communication towards CE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidong Chen ◽  
Xiaohui Yuan

AbstractFinancial inclusion has become an important development strategy in many countries, and related research is increasing. Financial inclusion in China has had significant progress recently. It has gradually formed a unique and sustainable development path with supporting policies and regulations as well as rapid development and application of digital technology. While challenges remain, the experience of Chinese financial inclusion provides valuable lessons and research directions for policymakers and researchers.


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