This annual volume from the Worldwatch Institute gives prominence to key trends that often escape the attention of the news media, world leaders and economic experts. The book distils 36 vital signs of our times from thousands of governmental, industrial and scientific sources, allowing readers to track key indicators that show our social, economic and environmental progress, or lack of it. Each trend is presented in both text and graphics, providing a thorough overview.
- 161 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
About this book
Trusted by 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half Title
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Overview: Poverty and Inequality Block Progress
- A Growing Economic Divide
- Diseases of Poverty and Wealth
- Poverty and Armed Conflict
- The Inequities of Climate Change
- Communication Gaps
- Standing Apart: The United States and Africa
- Bridging the Divides
- Part One: Key Indicators
- Food Trends
- Grain Production Drops
- Meat Production and Consumption Grow
- Energy and Atmosphere Trends
- Fossil Fuel Use Up
- Nuclear Power Rises
- Wind Power’s Rapid Growth Continues
- Carbon Emissions and Temperature Climb
- Economic Trends
- Economic Growth Inches Up
- Foreign Debt Declines
- Advertising Spending Stays Nearly Flat
- Tourism Growing But Still Shaky
- World Heritage Sites Rising Steadily
- Transportation and Communications Trends
- Vehicle Production Inches Up
- Bicycle Production Seesaws
- Communications Networks Expand
- Semiconductor Sales Rebound Slightly
- Health and Social Trends
- Population Growth Slows
- HIV/AIDS Pandemic Spreads Further
- Cigarette Production Dips Slightly
- Military Trends
- Violent Conflicts Continue to Decline
- Peacekeeping Expenditures Down Slightly
- Part Two: Special Features
- Environment Features
- Birds in Decline
- Small Islands Threatened by Sea Level Rise
- Economy Features
- Rich-Poor Divide Growing
- Gap in CEO-Worker Pay Widens
- Severe Weather Events on the Rise
- Resource Economics Features
- High Farm Subsidies Persist
- Harvesting of Illegal Drugs Remains High
- Health and Social Features
- Number of Refugees Drops
- Alternative Medicine Gains Popularity
- Maternal Deaths Reflect Inequities
- Consumption Patterns Contribute to Mortality
- Orphans Increase Due to AIDS Deaths
- Military and Governance Features
- Corruption Thwarts Development
- International Criminal Court Starts Work
- Military Expenditures on the Rise
- Resource Wars Plague Developing World
- Notes
- The Vital Signs Series
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access Vital Signs 2003-2004 by Worldwatch Institute in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Economics & Development Economics. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.