PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds including vinyl esters and a process for the production of 3-hydroxypropanoate esters or 3-hydroxypropanoic acids.SOLUTION: The process comprises reacting the compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and of a catalyst system. The catalyst system is obtainable by combining: (a) a metal of Group 8, 9 or 10 or a compound thereof: and (b) a bidentate ligand of general formula (I): X(X)-Q-A-R-B-Q-X(X).