26 May 1987

14th Plenary Meeting

Indicative patterns of consumption: qualitative indicators of development

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 40/179 of 17 December 1985 on patterns of consumption and qualitative aspects of development,

Noting with satisfaction the report of the Statistical Commission on its twenty-fourth session, in particular, the section on development indicators,

1. Takes note of the information on action to be taken in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 40/179, contained in the report of the Statistical Commission on its twenty-fourth session;

2. Expresses its appreciation to the Statistical Office of the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the regional commissions for the considerable progress achieved in the elaboration of development indicators, in accordance with the guidelines defined by the General Assembly;

3. Recommends that a report setting forth the views of Governments and containing a small number of case studies or national monographs on the preparation of a set of indicators in the fields identified in paragraph 2 of Assembly resolution 40/179 and the indicative patterns of consumption referred to in paragraph 3 thereof be prepared by the Secretary-General and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, in consultation with other appropriate organizations of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the regional commissions and other appropriate research institutes;

4. Recommends that appropriate extrabudgetary resources be allocated for the preparation of the above-mentioned case studies or national monographs, and invites interested donor countries, appropriate international organizations and other organizations wishing to participate in the research work on patterns of consumption and qualitative indicators of development, to provide voluntary contributions to the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development for that purpose;

5. Also recommends that the report be considered by the Statistical Commission at its twenty-fifth session, and that the recommendations of the Commission on the report be submitted to the Council at its first regular session of 1989, the results of the Council's consideration thereon to be presented to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session.