The forces of globalization are causing rapid changes in trade and financial flows, and the movement of people across the world has become a major issue in need of urgent action. The United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions face both daunting and complex challenges. This policy briefly summarizes the results of a major UNU/WIDER (United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research) project on these issues. This research has sought to identify the main ways in which governance needs of the world economy and polity can be strengthened, in particular to better protect the interests of the poorer developing countries.
