Remarks by Angel Gurría at the Conference on the 50th Anniversary of the OECD Model Tax Convention: Remarks

Doha Trade Negotiations: Let’s Go the Last Mile, says OECD’s Gurría: Accra Statement

Official Visit of the Secretary-General to Indonesia (Jakarta, 24-26 July 2008): Visit

Official Visit of the Secretary-General to New Zealand (Wellington, 29-31 July 2008): Visit | Speech on Global Financial Crisis | Speech on Lifting Productivity

Official Visit of the Secretary-General to Australia (Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, 3-8 August 2008): Visit | Speech on Political Economy of Reform

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OECD PUBLISHING NEWS

Back to School 20% Discount Promotion on Online Bookshop on all titles until the end of the month, and for selected education titles until the end of October: Promotion

OECD.stat has been short-listed for the ALPSP Publishing Innovation Commendation.

SourceOECD has been awarded Knowledge Works Certification by Serials Solutions: What it Means

SourceOECD Terms and Conditions have been updated to cover use of OECD content on blogs, websites and in other teaching materials: SourceOECD Terms and Conditions

OECD's 2009 Subscriptions Prices are now available: Prices

OECD Will Attend the Following Events in the Coming Months

• Oesterreichischer Bibliothekartag, 23-26 September 2008, Graz, Austria
• VOEB Kongress, 24-26 September 2008, Krems, Austria
• Frankfurt Book Fair, 15-19 October 2008, Frankfurt, Germany
• National Association of Business Economists Annual Meeting, 5-8 October 2008, Washington, DC, USA
• Internet Librarian, 20-22 October 2008, Monterey, California, USA
• Charleston Conference, 5-8 November 2008, Charleston, SC, USA
• Guadalajara International Book Fair, 28 November-6 December 2008, Guadalajara, Mexico
• Japan Library Fair and Forum 2008, 26-28 November 2008, Yokohama, Japan
• International Bielefeld Conference, 3-5 February 2009, Bielefeld, Germany
• Deutscher Bibliothekartag, 2-5 June 2009, Erfurt, Germany

See List of Forthcoming Books: Below

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AGRICULTURE / FOOD / FISHERIES

A Review of Policy Measures Supporting Bioenergy: Report (604 kb)

Rising Agricultural Prices: Causes, Consequences and Responses: Policy Brief (178 kb)

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BUSINESS & MARKETS

Peru adheres to the OECD Declaration on International Investment: Announcement

Investment in Russia rising but policy concerns remain, says OECD in its Investment Policy Review of Russia 2008: Press Release | Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Improving Financial Education and Awareness on Insurance and Private Pensions: Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Public consultation on the review of OECD Anti-Bribery Instruments: Report

OECD urges Argentina to improve capacity to enforce the Anti-Bribery Convention: Press Release | Report (747 kb)

Making Reforms Succeed: Moving Forward with the MENA Investment Policy Agenda: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Coverage of Funded Pension Plans: Working Paper (1.4 mb)

Pension Fund Performance: Working Paper (463 kb)

National Annuity Markets: Features and Implications: Working Paper (507 kb)

Accounting for Defined Benefit Plans: Working Paper (476 kb)

Plea Bargaining and Settlement of Cartel Cases: Policy Brief (174 kb)

Substantial Market Power and Competition: Policy Brief (159 kb)

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DEVELOPMENT

Donors and Developing Countries Agree to Reform Aid at Accra Conference: Announcement

Colombia joins the OECD Development Centre: Announcement

Effective Aid by 2010? Survey on Monitoring the Paris Declaration 2008: Announcement | Report (2.64 mb)

Building Public Awareness of Development: Development Centre Policy Brief

Report on Informal Employment in Romania: Development Centre Working Paper (1.91 mb)

The Macro Management of Commodity Booms: Development Centre Working Paper(1.2 mb)

OECD Development Centre Policy Insights:

• No. 60: Private Equity: An Eye for Investment under African Skies? (304 kb)
• No. 61: Evaluating the Effects of Vocational Training in Africa (337 kb)
• No. 62: Investing in Africa’s Youth (328 kb)
• No. 63: More Trees Have Fallen… But the Forest is Still Growing: Recent Trends in African Politics (331 kb)
• No. 64: Africa in 2008: Breaking Down the Growth (249 kb)
• No. 65: Combating Under-Five Mortality in Africa (451 kb)
• No. 66: Higher Food Prices: A Blessing in Disguise for Africa? (256 kb)
• No. 67: Households in Transition: The Black Sea and Central Asia Economic Outlook: A Blessing in Disguise for Africa? (322 kb)
• No. 68: Transition, Globalisation and Labour in the Black Sea Economic Co-operation and Central Asian Regions (325 kb)
• No. 69: International Labour Mobility Opportunity or Risk for Developing Countries? (484 kb)
• No. 70: The Two Faces of Informal Employment in Romania (408 kb)
• No. 71: Home-Owned and Home-Grown: Development Policies that Can Work (838 kb)
• No. 72: En Route to Accra: The Global Development Finance Non-System (346 kb)
• No. 73: A Paris Declaration for International NGOs? (437 kb)
• No. 74: A Farewell to Policy Conditionality? (313 kb)
• No. 75: The Curse of Raw Materials? (311 kb)

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

The Marshall Plan: Lessons Learned for the 21st Century: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Japan's Economic Challenges: OECD Observer Article

The following OECD Economic Surveys were released during the past month. Policy Briefs summarising the findings of Surveys released during the past year are available:

• Indonesia Economic Assessment: Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD
• Norway: Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

OECD Economics Department Working Papers released during the past month:

• No. 634: Have Long-Term Financial Trends Changed the Transmission of Monetary Policy? (1.03 mb)
• No. 633: Raising Education Achievement and Breaking the Cycle of Inequality in the United Kingdom (770 kb)
• No. 632: The Euro Changeover in the Slovak Republic (483 kb)
• No. 631: Tax Reform for Efficiency and Fairness in Canada (289 kb)
• No. 630: Reforming the Polish Tax System to Improve its Efficiency (992 kb)
• No. 629: Modernising Canada’s Agricultural Policies (570 kb)
• No. 628: Recent Trends and Structural Breaks in US and EU15 Labour Productivity Growth (606 kb)
• No. 627: Health Status Determinants (1.77 mb)
• No. 626: Market Mechanisms in Public Service Provision (757 kb)
• No. 625: Improving Human Capital Formation in India (390 kb)
• No. 624: Labour Regulation and Employment Dynamics at the State Level in India (505 kb)
• No. 623: India’s Growth Pattern and Obstacles to Higher Growth (539 kb)
• No. 622: Reaping the Benefits of Stronger Competition in Network Industries in Germany (417 kb)
• No. 621: The Usefulness of Output Gaps for Policy Analysis (2.12.mb)

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ECONOMIC STATISTICS

Journal of Business Cycle Measurement and Analysis: Volume 3, No. 3 This issue features articles on macroeconomic forecasting, nonparametric forecasting, dating the Euro 15 monthly business cycle jointly using GDP and IPI, Australian investment and savings, and internet business tendency surveys: Subscribe on Online Bookshop | View on SourceOECD

Latest OECD Consumer Prices: Inflation rises to 4.8% in OECD area: More

Latest OECD Composite Leading Indicators: Continued Slowdown signaled in major OECD economies: More

Latest Standardised Unemployment Rates. Unemployment in the OECD area stable at 5.8%: More

OECD area shows stable Unit Labour Cost growth in Market Services but a strong increase in Industry in first quarter of 2008: More

Quarterly GDP Growth: Quarterly Release | Spreadsheet

G7 merchandise trade growth sluggish in 1st quarter 2008: More

Main Economic Indicators for Non-member Countries: More (183 kb)

IEA Monthly Oil Market Report: More

OECD Statistics Portal: Website

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EDUCATION

Back to school – OECD work on education to help governments and educators: Announcement of a Series of Publications and Events

Soaring student numbers pose funding and quality challenges for universities in OECD countries, according to Education at a Glance 2008: Press Release | Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Trends Shaping Education - 2008 Edition. Looks at how changes elsewhere in our lives - such as changes in lifestyle and family structure, climate change, the growth of the internet, and the rise in obesity and the use of mobile phones might affect education: Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book to be on SourceOECD shortly

Improving school leadership a priority for national education policies, says OECD in Improving School Leadership, which examines the role of principals in the schools of tomorrow: Press Release | Book Announcement | Executive Summaries | Volume 1 on Online Bookshop | Volume 1 on SourceOECD | Volume 2 on Online Bookshop | Volume 2 on SourceOECD

Be more purposeful in guiding tertiary education, OECD tells governments inTertiary Education for the Knowledge Society. This study presents examples of innovative and successful policies and practices that countries have implemented, and puts forward some policy options based on a 4-year study in 24 countries: Press Release | Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book to be available on SourceOECD shortly

Higher Education Management and Policy, Volume 20 Issue 2: Special Issue: Higher Education and Regional Development: Subscribe on the Online Bookshop | View Issue on SourceOECD

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EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Tailor immigration policies to future needs, says OECD in International Migration Outlook 2008: Press Release | Book Announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Norway’s job market works for most youth but too many rely on sickness benefits according to Jobs for Youth: Norway: Press Release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Reforming Retirement-Income Systems: Working Paper (314 kb)

Babies and Bosses: Balancing Work and Family Life: Policy Brief (235 kb)

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ENERGY (Also see Nuclear Energy)

European Union is leading on climate change and energy policies, but needs to increase funding for energy research & development, according to IEA Energy Policies Review: The European Union – 2008: Press Release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Energy for One World: IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka's presentation at the ONS Conference 2008 in Stavanger, Norway: PowerPoint

Coal Information: 2008 Edition: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Electricity Information: 2008 Edition: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Natural Gas Information: 2008 Edition: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Oil Information: 2008 Edition: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Renewables Information: 2008 Edition: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Energy Prices and Taxes: Second Quarter 2008: Subscribe on Online Bookshop | View Issue on SourceOECD

Turning a Liability into an Asset: Landfill Methane Recovery in India: Report (451 kb)

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP / SMEs / LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Conference on "Partnerships for Social Inclusion" to be held in Melbourne, Australia: Announcement

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ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Business, Eco-innovation and Globalisation: Policy Brief (205 kb)

Environment, Health and Safety News, July 2008: Newsletter (296 kb)

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HEALTH

Health Status Determinants: Working Paper

Information Availability for Measuring and Comparing Quality of Mental Health Care Across OECD Countries: Working Paper

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INFORMATION / COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

OECD e-Government Studies Belgium: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

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NUCLEAR ENERGY

The Nuclear Energy Agency will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on 16 October 2008.

Nuclear Law Bulletin No. 81: Subscribe on Online Bookshop | Issue on SourceOECD

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PUBLIC MANAGEMENT / GOVERNANCE / URBAN, RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS

Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust: Building a Legislative Framework for Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Lobbying: Report (1.15 mb)

Enhancing Integrity in Public Procurement: A Checklist: Report (742 kb)

OECD Journal on Budgeting: Volume 8 Issue 2: Subscribe to OECD Journal on Online Bookshop | View Issue on SourceOECD

OECD Rural Policy Reviews: Scotland, UK: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Fighting Bribery in Public Procurement in Asia and the Pacific: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

OECD Territorial Reviews Cape Town, South Africa: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

OECD e-Government Studies Belgium: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Conference on Competitive Cities and Climate Change: Announcement

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SCIENCE / INNOVATION / INDUSTRY

OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy: China: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Research and Development: Going Global: Policy Brief (226 kb)

Business, Eco-innovation and Globalisation: Policy Brief (205 kb)

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TAXATION

A Model to Celebrate: OECD Model Tax Convention Marks 50th Anniversary: OECD Observer Article | Gurría Statement

OECD approves the 2008 Update to the Model Tax Convention: Announcement | Updated Condensed Version on Online Bookshop | Condensed Version on SourceOECD | Announcement Regarding Forthcoming Electronic Version (French Condensed Version due out shortly. Two-Volume Loose-leaf Updates will come towards the end of the year)

International Conference on Taxation, State Building and Capacity Development in Africa: Pretoria Communiqué

OECD provides Update on Work on Treaty Relief for Collective Investment Vehicles and other Portfolio Investors: Announcement

OECD releases final Report on the Attribution of Profits to Permanent Establishments: Announcement | Book to Appear on Online Bookshop Shortly | Book to Appear on SourceOECD Shortly

OECD and Italian Government Announce 2009 Fellowship in Memory of Alessandro Di Battista: Announcement

Tax Co-operation 2008: Towards a Level Playing Field: Assessment by the Global Forum on Taxation: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on SourceOECD

Reforming Corporate Income Tax: Policy Brief

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TRADE

Trade and Innovation Project: Website

Trade and Innovation Project: A Synthesis Paper: Working Paper (1.77 mb)

Trade and Innovation Project: Case Study No. 1: Working Paper (876 kb)

Trade and Innovation Project: Case Study No. 2: Working Paper (596 kb)

Trade and Innovation Project: Case Study No. 3: Working Paper (437 kb)

Trade and Innovation Project: Case Study No. 4: Working Paper (565 kb)

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TRANSPORTATION

The Economic Effects of High Speed Rail Investment: Discussion Paper (1.17 mb)

The Role of Accessibility in Passengers' Choice of Airports: Discussion Paper (1.32 mb)

Update on EU Transport Legislation: Update

Country Reports on Road Safety Performance: Website

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FORTHCOMING

Costs of Inaction on Key Environmental Challenges: Book Listing

Deploying Renewables: Principles for Effective Policies: Book Listing

Encouraging Student Interest in Science and Technology Studies: Book Listing

OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Hungary: Book Listing

OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Turkey: Book Listing

Financial Management of Large-Scale Catastrophes: Book Listing

The Global Competition for Talent: Mobility of the Highly Skilled: Book Listing

Growing Unequal: Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries: Book Listing

Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators: Methodology and User Guide: Book Listing

OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Peru: Book Listing

OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Vietnam: Book Listing

OECD Journal on Development: Volume 9 Issue 2: Special Issue on Measuring Human Rights and Democratic Governance: Experiences and Lessons from Metagora

The Looming Crisis in the Health Workforce: How Can OECD Countries Respond?: Book Listing

Making Life Easy for Citizens and Businesses in Portugal: Administrative Simplification and e-Government: Book Listing

Market Competition in the Nuclear Industry: Book Listing

Natural Gas Market Review 2008: Book Listing

Open Innovation in Global Networks: Book Listing

Pharmaceutical Pricing Policies in a Global Market: Book Listing