This Background Note examines the purpose of, and challenges in, using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in international comparison.
This Opinion argues that the pursuit of the Doha Trade Round should be a low priority, and that other trade issues are more important. Not only are the returns from a Doha round likely to be low, but the potential costs are high, as a failure or minimal compromise is likely to undermine the credibility of the WTO.
For now, rather than focusing on the Doha Round, it appears to be more sensible to concentrate on six more important trade issues:
Business and development
This Opinion asks why children's rights remain largely 'invisible' on the international agenda and sets out measures to address this invisibility. All but two countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but the Opinion questions the significance of this apparent consensus and calls for more resources to monitor and implement child rights.