As governments address the Covid-19 crisis, they should seize the opportunity of historically low oil prices to redirect some of the half a trillion dollars spent annually supporting fossil fuels into sustainable investments including low-carbon energy, according to the OECD and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The race is on to find a vaccine and treatments for Covid-19. Early efforts have shown promise, but there are many issues to address: ensuring international co-ordination, R&D, eventual manufacturing and, crucially, equitable distribution. Our OECD Policy Response explains the issues.

Following the introduction of COVID-19 containment measures across the world, real gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD area fell by 1.8% in the first quarter of 2020, the largest drop since the 2.3% contraction in the first quarter of 2009 at the height of the financial crisis, provisional estimates show.

OECD countries have invited Costa Rica to become a member country of the Organisation. Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada (photo) and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría will sign an Accession Agreement in the coming days.

Composite leading indicators for most major economies collapsed by unprecedented levels in April as containment measures for Covid-19 continued to impact production, consumption and confidence.