appropriate policies ofdevelopment andinternational co-operation isrequired in ordertominimize social andeconomic costsofadjustment andmaximize thegains thatthenewchallenges andopportunities offer, forthebenefit ofallcountries andgroups. 12.24 Thetaskofthesubprogramme istoproduce anoverall viewoftheeconomic problems oftheworld. Inanincreasingly interdependent worldandinan atmosphere whereeconomic variables changefast,predictability ofeventsis necessarily difficult, requiring frequent andrepeated examination ofcurrent developments thatcontain theseedoffuture trends. Thenecessity forexamination ofshort-term changes issuperimposed ontheneedforscrutiny oflonger-term issuesinthesocial andeconomic fields. Itisimportant thatshort-term developments notadversely affect development ofhumanandphysical capital, technological change andstructural transformation, thecontribution ofwomento thedevelopment process, andtheenvironment. 12.25 Theobjective ofthesubprogramme istoprovide theGeneral Assembly, the Economic andSocial Council andotherlegislative bodies withsystematic analysis andassessment ofcurrent global economic issues andtrends andoftheir interrelations andimplications forinternational andnational action. Theaimof accelerating development indeveloping countries inthecontext ofglobal economic expansion hasbecome acritical international issue, andeconomic trendsinthe 1990swillhavetobeassessed indepth. (b)Courseofaction oftheSecretariat 12.26 Analysis ofeconomic performance andofemerging social andeconomic issues andtrendswillcontinue atthegloballevelandatthelevelofcountry groups and willbeundertaken annually, asmid-year andend-year updates oftheannual assessments, andaspartofthereviewoftheinternational development strategy forthefourth United Nations development decade. 12.27 Theexamination ofmultilateral approaches -inparticular thetradeand financial regimes -willremain important toensure broad-based, sustained, non-inflationary growth intheworldeconomy intheyearsahead. -8-12.28 Theprincipal vehicle oftheSecretariat inthefulfilment ofthis responsibility isthepreparation oftheannual worldeconomic survey, mandated since1947.Itisexpected thatmanyadditional adhocreports requested by intergovernmental bodies, andcovering different aspects oftheworldeconomy will havetobeprepared fortheCouncil andtheAssembly. SUBPROGRAMME 2.PROBLEMS ANDPROSPECTS OFINTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT (a)Objectives 12.29 Thelegislative authority forsubprogramme 2derives fromGeneral Assembly resolutions 39/29,40/40, 40/182, S-13/2, 41/182, 42/49, 42/51, 42/64, 42/163, 42/186, 42/187, 42/193, 43/53,43/182, 43/195, 43/196, 44/55, 44/56, 44/57, 44/58, 44/211, 44/212, 44/213, 44/232 and44/233, anddecisions 41/440, 42/429 and44/411; andEconomic andSocial Council resolutions 1986/56, 1987/81, 1987/93, 1988/49, 1988/74, 1988/75, 1988/76, 1988/112, 1989/13, 1989/89, 1989/93, 1989/110, 1989/113 and1989/120. 12.30 Theobjectives ofthesUbprogramme are(a)tocarryoutmultisectoral and integrated analysis ofabroadrangeofsocio-economic issueswithaviewto presenting tointergovernmental bodies anintegrated viewofdevelopment problems andprospects, and(b)toproduce studies andreports withpolicy options and recommendations onthoseproblems andprospects, including theinterrelationship between economic andsocialfactors andthesocial andenvironmental soundness of thedevelopment process forenhancing international co-operation andstrengthening national efforts aimedatthealleviation oftheproblems. (b)CourseofactionoftheSecretariat 12.31 Research andanalysis willbeundertaken toassessglobal changes in
**Analysis**
The text discusses the global economic situation, highlighting the need for international cooperation and policy development to address the challenges and opportunities of the new world order. It also touches on the importance of sustainable development, social and environmental issues, and the need for multisectoral and integrated analysis of socio-economic problems. This suggests that the text is primarily focused on economic development, but also has implications for the natural environment and social issues.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Natural resources and environment