Economic and Social Rights in the ‘Great Recession’

Abstract

This chapter examines how human rights can guide policy responses to the global economic crisis. It considers the impacts of the successive waves of financial and economic crisis on economic and social rights; examines the key human rights principles and standards most relevant for guiding economic policymaking in this context; explores how these standards and principles can be made operational as governments develop their crisis mitigation and economic recovery policies; and discusses the challenges of integrating human rights in policy responses to the crisis, and in economic policy more broadly. It is argued that the crisis is a historic opportunity to re-envision the role of the state in the economy, not only to promote economic growth, but to uphold economic and social rights for all.