A window on the world economy for 2012

Live Facebook chat following the launch on multiple locations of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2012 on 17, 18 and 19 January (#WESP2012)

Live @ http://on.fb.me/wesp2012
WHEN: Friday, 20 January 2012 at 3:00 pm CET
HOW TO JOIN: Submit your question on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/wesp2012 or on Twitter to @UNDESA using #WESP2012
Hashtag: #WESP2012

Most content will link to the Facebook event page: http://on.fb.me/wesp2012
For more information about WESP2012: http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/index.shtml

In conjunction with the launch of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012, the Development Policy and Analysis Division (DPAD) of UN/DESA is organizing a live chat on Facebook to answer your questions concerning the risks and opportunities for the world economy, as well as the scope for policy action in the year ahead.

- What’s in store for the world economy in 2012 and beyond?
- Weak Governments and vulnerable banks: Are developed economies ripe for a new recession?
- Should Europe give up on the euro?
- Will fiscal austerity pave the way out of the crisis or lead to a new recession?
- How will growth in Brazil, the Russian Federation, India and China (BRICs) affect the rest of the world?
- Are emerging markets strong enough to act as the engine of global economic growth?
- What are the short- and long-term economic consequences of the Arab Spring?

Join Rob Vos, Director of DPAD, and economists from the Global Economic Monitoring Unit.

The panel of economists include:

• Grigor Agabekian on the Commonwealth of Independent States
• Clive Altshuler on Europe
• Jeronim Capaldo on Latin America and the Caribbean
• Matthias Kempf and John Winkel on Africa
• Pierre Kohler on Western Asia
• Ingo Pitterle on East and South Asia