For more than six decades, the United States’ engagement in the United Nations has clearly supported U.S. foreign policy goals. Less obvious is the fact that the U.S derives significant economic benefits from that engagement, through UN procurement of American goods and services and economic returns to local New York businesses. In fact, for every $1 invested by the United States in the United Nations Secretariat, our nation receives over $1.60 in return. Breakdown of UN economic benefits to the U.S.: UN Secretariat economic benefits to the U.S. per year based on latest figures available: UN Secretariat Procurement from U.S. in 2010: $832 million Economic benefit to NYC: $3.3 billion
Estimated benefit to the U.S. in one year: $4.13 billion U.S. Contributions to the UN Secretariat: U.S. to UN Regular Budget in 2010: $516 million U.S. to UN Peacekeeping in 2010: $1.887 billion U.S. to the Capital Master Plan (as pledged in 2010): $75 million Estimated U.S. contribution to the UN Secretariat: $2.478 billion 4.13 á 2.478 = $1.66
While the U.S. contributes $2.478 billion to the UN Secretariat, we receive $4.12 billion in economic benefits from the UN. This means that for every dollar the U.S. pays, we receive more than $1.60 in return.