Committee Information Title: Second Committee: Economic and Financial Council Chair: Connor Clerkin Moderator: Kyle Illgen Topic A: Financial Strategies to Limit Environmental Degradation Topic A Summary: One of the primary negative outcomes of economic growth and development has been the harm caused to our environment and natural resources. In the pursuit of increasing GDP growth, the world’s nations – especially developing countries – have neglected the strain they are placing on the environment and the negative consequences this will have on future generations. Despite recent investment in renewable energy and pro-green initiatives, there remains much hesitation amongst policymakers to pursue more effective financial strategies that limit environmental degradation. Sustainable development still remains an elusive goal, and measures need to be taken in order to reduce the damage caused to the environment by policies that favor faster short-term growth. Implementing such measures will especially be challenging for delegates in today’s precarious global economic environment. Topic B: Addressing the Issue of Income Inequality in Developed and Developing Nations Topic B Summary: Amongst the plethora of socio-economic issues the world faces today, growing income inequality certainly stands out. In the past decade, income inequality has grown sharply in both developed and developing nations, as is evidenced by the rise in their Gini coefficients. The US has a particularly high level of growing income inequality, which has been exacerbated by the economic downturn. Developing nations such as China also see rising inequities in income, despite healthy GDP growth. Not only is this global rise in income inequality producing public frustration, but it is also unsustainable and threatens long-term growth. Measures need to be taken by the UN member states to address this issue and reduce income inequities in the future.

Background Guide Background guides are not yet available. We will notify delegates when they are posted.

Letter from the Chair

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to UPMUNC XLVII! My name is Connor Clerkin and I will be your chair for the Economic and Financial Affairs Council. I look forward to working with you on what I am sure will be an excellent and engaging committee this year.

Before continuing, I'd like to give you a little background about myself. I am a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, studying Economics and Classics. Though I didn’t engage in Model UN until college, for the past year it has held an extremely important position in my life and I am excited to continue the experience with all of you. I serve as an Under Secretary-General Operations for ILMUNC, Penn’s high school conference, and I am looking forward to working now with older delegates. Outside of Model UN, I spend my time reading Classical Literature, playing my guitar, writing, and playing far too much Xbox.

By the time conference rolls around I hope to have met some of you at various other stops on the circuit. I urge you all to prepare diligently for our committee. I am looking for passionate and well informed delegates and hope to see strong teamwork and dedication from all of you at conference.

In the time between now and UPMUNC, feel free to reach out to me or to our Moderator, Kyle Illgen. I look forward to meeting you all in November!

Sincerely,

Connor Clerkin
ecofin@upmunc.org
Chair, Second Committee: Economic and Financial Council

Letter from the Moderator

Most Wonderful Delegates,

Welcome to what should be one of your most enjoyable trips of the semester here at UPMUNC XLVII. My name is Kyle Illgen, and I will be your benevolent Moderator for the course of the weekend here at ECOFIN.

It's my junior year here at the University of Pennsylvania and I'm elbow deep in completing the majority of my Economic History major, working at our school's newspaper, and taking care of my fraternity's dog, Otto von Bismarck. Hailing from Nashville, TN, you might hear a slight twang come from the mic every now and then, and I quite enjoy discussing the nuances of Southern life with those of y'all also from below the Mason-Dixon. While model UN was something I never did before college, and I still don't compete regularly on the circuit, I have staffed several conferences since freshman year and am involved with the club as a whole throughout the year.

There's going to be more than enough time to have a really good grasp of the topics proposed for committee, so I'm looking forward to some quality debate and discussion in the sessions we have. Please take the time to review the background guides we've provided as well as completing a bit of additional research so we can achieve this.

Thank you again for your decision to join us in our 47th year, and it won't be long before DelegateFest becomes your best Model UN experience of college. If you have any further questions about committee, conference, or the best place to grab a drink in Philly, feel free to reach out to me, your chair Connor, or our USG Aman Puri.

Best,

Kyle Illgen
ecofin@upmunc.org
Moderator, Second Committee: Economic and Financial Council