Publications

Fiscal incentives for R&D and innovation in a diverse world

Public policy has an important role to play in promoting research and development (R&D) and the development, diffusion, and use of new knowledge and innovations. Fiscal incentives, including tax policies, should be directed at specific barriers, impediments or synergies to facilitate the desired level of investment in R&D and innovations.

The Financial Markets Outlook

The global economy is caught between two major headwinds: the reversal of the investment-heavy commodity supercycle; and the "L-shaped" recovery in advanced economies caused by the aftermath of the financial crisis and the interaction of re‐regulation with low and negative interest rates. This report analyses these issues and presents a financial outlook.

The impact of investment treaties on companies, shareholders and creditors

Investment treaties are intended to offer foreign investors protection for their investments from host government conduct in violation of the treaty. This report examines how many investment treaties, as interpreted, have generated rules that can disrupt fundamental principles of corporate governance and corporate finance.

Is foreign bribery an attractive investment in some countries? (pdf)

One of the most basic legal principles is that crime should not pay. Yet this report shows that, in many jurisdictions with weak sanctions, foreign bribery may be an attractive investment. It shows, in particular, that a company would still be willing to "invest" in a foreign bribery scheme even if it knew in advance that it would be caught and fined at the end of the bribery scenario.

Fragmentation in clean energy investment and financing

Scaling-up investment in renewable electricity is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. Despite increasing cost-competitiveness, overall investment in renewables projects remains constrained by policy and market obstacles. These hinder development of a sufficient pipeline of bankable projects and affect the risk-return profile of renewable electricity projects.

OECD Business and Finance Outlook 2016

OECD Report to G7 Leaders on Responsible Business Conduct

This note describes work undertaken by the OECD to support the implementation of the 2015 G7 Leaders’ Declaration in the area of responsible business conduct. Four areas of action are covered: outreach on responsible business conduct (RBC) standards to other countries; development of guidance for supply chain due diligence; monitoring of multi-stakeholder initiatives; and strengthening National Contact Points.