The assessment of long-term growth trends is grounded in the OECD's macroeconomic policy analysis and includes medium-term projections of potential output and productivity established on an internationally consistent basis. The role of policy settings and the institutional framework on long-term growth paths is reviewed from time to time.

Between 1999 and 2001 the OECD engaged in a major project on the sources of economic growth in Member countries. Emphasis was given to the causes underlying differences in recent growth performance and to the identification of factors, institutions and policies that could enhance long-term growth prospects. This work resulted in a Ministerial report, several OECD publications and a number of technical papers