Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World – Harvard Kennedy School

Report on “Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World”: A Framework for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Interlinked Global Crises through an SDG-Focused Lens

Current global policies are proving inadequate in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, poverty, and institutional instability. An analysis of the framework proposed in “Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World” suggests a new approach is required, one that holistically targets key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) rather than pursuing them in isolation. The primary challenges identified align directly with several SDGs:

• Climate Change: Directly threatening SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Poverty Eradication: The central aim of SDG 1 (No Poverty).
• Democratic Erosion: A challenge to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

A New Globalization Paradigm for Sustainable Development

The report outlines a reimagined vision of globalization designed to simultaneously advance economic, social, and environmental objectives. This model is structured around three core pillars, each contributing to a specific set of SDGs:

1. Accelerate the Green Transition: This pillar focuses on achieving environmental sustainability, directly supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) through the rapid adoption of green technologies.
2. Strengthen the Middle Class: By creating decent work and fostering economic growth, this objective aims to restore institutional stability, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
3. Promote Economic Revitalization in Developing Nations: This goal targets the eradication of poverty and the reduction of global inequalities, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

Key Policy Areas for SDG Attainment

The framework advocates for new forms of action to achieve these goals, even in the absence of complete global cooperation. The proposed strategies emphasize:

• Collaborative Public-Private Action: Fostering partnerships to drive progress, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Promotion of Renewables and Green Industries: A direct strategy to advance SDG 7, SDG 9, and SDG 13.
• Creation of Middle-Class Jobs: A focus on labor-absorbing services and enhanced productivity to support SDG 8 and SDG 10.
• Recognition of National Autonomy: Allowing governments the flexibility to pursue economic, social, and security interests that align with their national SDG priorities.

Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

The report acknowledges significant obstacles to achieving the SDGs, including rising protectionism, economic anxieties fueling authoritarianism, and technological shifts like automation that disrupt traditional development pathways. The proposed model addresses these by advocating for a new kind of globalization that respects national policy space while promoting targeted, collaborative action on shared goals.

Conclusion: A Pragmatic Approach to Global Goal Realization

The framework presented in “Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World” offers a grounded, pragmatic approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It calls for a radical transformation of ineffective economic policies while building on proven practices, providing a clear-eyed strategy for tackling interconnected global challenges and fostering shared prosperity on a sustainable planet.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article explicitly mentions the goal of “eradicating poverty” and the need for “economic revitalization in the developing world to put an end to poverty.”
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The text discusses the need to “shore up the middle class,” create “middle-class jobs,” and achieve “enhanced productivity in labor-absorbing services.” It also addresses the challenges of automation undercutting low-cost labor, which relates to economic growth and employment.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The call to “promote renewables and green industries” directly connects to building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • By focusing on shoring up the middle class and alleviating “economic anxieties,” the article implicitly addresses the issue of economic inequality within and among countries.
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • This is a central theme, stated directly as “Fighting climate change” and the need to “accelerate the green transition to achieve a sustainable planet.”
6. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The goal of “saving democracy” and concerns about the “rising tide of authoritarianism” directly align with the aim of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies with effective, accountable institutions.
7. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article proposes a “new vision of globalization” and “new forms of collaborative public-private action” as a method to achieve the goals, which is the core of SDG 17. It contrasts this with the “absence of global cooperation.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 1 (No Poverty):
   • Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere. The article’s direct call to “eradicating poverty” aligns with this primary target.
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. This is reflected in the mention of “enhanced productivity in labor-absorbing services” and addressing challenges from “automation and other new technologies.”
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation… This is supported by the focus on creating “middle-class jobs.”
3. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… This is directly connected to the proposal to “promote renewables and green industries.”
4. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The call to “accelerate the green transition” implies the integration of climate-focused policies.
5. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. This is the foundation for “saving democracy” and countering the “rising tide of authoritarianism.”
6. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The article’s central argument against “outdated policies that focus on one while worsening the tradeoffs” directly addresses this target.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. This is explicitly mentioned as “new forms of collaborative public-private action.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article, being a high-level summary of a book, does not mention specific, quantitative UN indicators. However, it implies several qualitative or thematic indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• For Climate Action (SDG 13): The rate of the “green transition” and the level of promotion and investment in “renewables and green industries.”
• For Decent Work (SDG 8): The growth and stability of the “middle class,” the number of “middle-class jobs” created, and measured increases in “enhanced productivity.”
• For No Poverty (SDG 1): The pace of “economic revitalization in the developing world” and the reduction in poverty rates.
• For Strong Institutions (SDG 16): The strength of “democracy’s foundations” and a reversal of the “rising tide of authoritarianism,” which could be measured by democracy indices.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hks.harvard.edu