1 MAY 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

OECD will celebrate its 50th Anniversary during OECD Week, May 24-26, 2011, with the theme Better Policies for Better Lives. It will include the annual OECD Ministerial Meeting and the annual OECD Forum. Webpage

Safeguard support for poorest families says Doing Better for Families: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD PUBLISHING NEWS

A new release of OECD iLibrary has just gone live! It includes the following new features:

• Design improvements for improving legibility and use
• Ability to browse by Theme and/or country from home page
• Ability to search for statistics only from Statistics home page
• Ability to sort search results by content type
• New rules for relevance and ranking to improve search results
• Improved performance
  

OECD Subscription Prices for 2011: Prices

OECD publications will be on exhibit at the following events in the coming months:

• Deutscher Bibliothekartag, 7-10 June 2011, Berlin, Germany
• Special Libraries Association, 12-15 June 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• American Libraries Association, 23-28 June 2011, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Österreichischer Bibliothekartag, 18-21 October, Innsbruck, Austria
  

AGRICULTURE/FOOD/FISHERIES

Turkey's farm reforms should accelerate to improve competitiveness, says Evaluation of Agricultural Policy Reforms in Turkey: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop (PDF only will be released on July 15. To appear on OECD iLibrary at that time)

Regional Trade Agreements - Treatment of Agriculture: Working paper

Long Term Trends in Agricultural Policy Impacts: Working paper

Apply now for Co-operative Research Programme 2012 research fellowships and conference sponsorship: Announcement

Forthcoming
-Agriculture and Food: Feeding Nine Billion People: Book listing
-Evaluation of Agricultural Policy Reforms in the European Union: Book listing

BUSINESS & MARKETS

Attractiveness for Innovation: Location Factors for International Investment: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Corporate Governance in Asia 2011: Progress and Challenges: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Joining Forces against Corruption: G20 Business and Government: Conference Website

FATF assessment of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing activities in the Netherlands: Report ( PDF - 2.3 mb)

Forthcoming
-Risk Awareness, Capital Markets and Catastrophic Risks: Book listing
-Financial Market Trends, Volume 2010, Issue 2: Subscribe to the OECD Journal
-Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Kazakhstan 2010: Sector Competitiveness Strategy: Book listing
-Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Republic of Moldova 2011: Fostering SME Development: Book listing
-OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Book listing
-OECD Code of Liberalisation of Capital Movements 2011: Book listing

DEVELOPMENT

Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

DACnews, April 2011 includes articles on the new development landscape, 2010 aid figures, the DAC Senior Level Meeting, the SG and DAC Chair's Call to Action, DAC data on development finance, evaluation in Sudan, supporting statebuilding in situations of conflict and fragility, and more: Newsletter

The OECD is delighted to host the 2011 Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE), in partnership with the World Bank and the Government of France. It will take place at the OECD Conference Centre on 30 May - 1 June 2011: Website

16th Africa Partnership Forum: Joint Statement (PDF - 80 kb)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

Japan's economy has weakened by reconstruction will boost activity, says OECD Economic Surveys: Japan 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Estonia must prevent cyclical unemployment from becoming structural, says OECD Economic Surveys: Estonia 2011: Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

The recession hightlights the need for structural reforms, says OECD Economic Surveys: New Zealand 2011: Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Economics Department Working Papers:
-No. 853: Mitigation Potential of Removing Fossil Fuel Subsidies
-No. 854: What Drives Inflation in the Major OECD Economies?
-No. 855: Interest Rate Pass-through During the Global Financial Crisis: The Case of Sweden
-No. 856: Global Imbalances, Exchange Rate Pegs and Capital Flows
-No. 857: Policy Frameworks in the Post-Crisis Environment
-No. 858: Bringing French Public Debt Down: The Options for Fiscal Consolidation
-No. 859: France's Environmental Policies: Internalising Global and Local Externalities

Forthcoming
-OECD Economic Surveys: Mexico 2011: Book listing
-OECD Economic Surveys: Italy 2011: Book listing

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

Principle Global Indicators website includes coverage for G20 and Financial Stability Board members: Website

EDUCATION

Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education: Lessons from PISA for the United States: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Establishing a Framework for Evaluation and Teacher Incentives: Considerations for Mexico: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Tertiary Education for the Knowledge Society: Pointers for Policy Development: Report (PDF - 609 kb)

User Participation: A New Approach to School Design in Korea: CELE Exchange article

Transforming Pedagogical Ethos into an Effective Learning Environment: CELE Exchange article

Making Visionary Design Work at Policy Level and in Practice: CELE Exchange article

Educationtoday: OECD's collaborative space to help shape the post-crisis economy and society: Educationtoday

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

OECD Ministerial Meeting on Social Policy to focus on Building a Fairer Future: Website

New action needed against risk of persistently high unemployment, says article in forthcoming issue of the OECD Economic Outlook: Press release | Article (PDF 1.14 mb)

Safeguard support for poorest families says Doing Better for Families: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Economic Determinants and Consequences of Child Maltreatment: Working paper

Forthcoming
-Job-Rich Growth in Asia: Strategies for Local Employment, Skills Development and Social Protection: Book listing

ENERGY

Age of cheap energy is over, IEA Executive Director warns: Latest information

Biofuels can provide up to 27% of world transportation fuel by 2050, says Biofuels for Transport Technology Roadmap: Press release | Report (PDF- 2.19 mb)

Forthcoming
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Energy
-Climate and Electricity Annual 2011: Data and Analysis

ENVIRONMENT

Cities are underserved by carbon markets says OECD: Press release

Forthcoming
-OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Norway 2011: Book listing
-Towards Green Growth (Synthesis report of the OECD Green Growth Project): Book listing
-Towards Green Growth - Monitoring Progress: OECD Indicators: Book listing
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Energy

HEALTH

Description of Alternative Approaches to Measure and Place a Value on Hospital Products in Seven OECD Countries: Working paper

Forthcoming
-Help Wanted? Providing and Paying for Long-Term Care: Book listing

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Report on the Implementation of the OECD Recommendation on Cross-border Co-operation in the Enforcement of Laws Protecting Privacy: Working paper

National Strategies and Policies for Digital Identity Management in OECD Countries: Working paper

The Evolving Privacy Landscape: 30 Years After the OECD Privacy Guidelines: Working paper

Forthcoming
-OECD Communications Outlook 2011

NUCLEAR ENERGY

OECD to host G20 meeting on nuclear safety issues: Announcement

NEA tracks status of nuclear reactors and radioactive releases: Website

25 Years after the Chernobyl Accident: NEA perspective

The Nuclear Regulator's Role in Assessing Licensee Oversight of Vendor and Other Contracted Services: Report (PDF - 1.2 mb)

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Forthcoming:
-OECD Urban Policy Reviews, Poland 2011: Book listing
-Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust, Volume 2: Promoting integrity through Self-Regulation: Book listing

SCIENCE , TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY

Attractiveness for Innovation: Location Factors for International Investment: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Developments in Steelmaking Capacity of Non-OECD Economies 2010: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Conference on Patent Statistics for Decision Makers to be held in Alexandria, VA, USA 16-17 November 2011: Announcement

SMEs & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Attractiveness for Innovation: Location Factors for International Investment: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development in Andalusia, Spain: Working paper

Climate Change, Employment and Local Development in Extremadura, Spain: Working paper

Climate Change, Employment and Local Development in London, UK: Working paper

Forthcomimg:
-Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2010: Book listing
-Job-Rich Growth in Asia: Strategies for Local Employment, Skills Development and Social Protection: Book listing

TAXATION

Forthcoming:
-Taxing Wages 2010: Book listing

TRADE

Regional Trade Agreements - Treatment of Agriculture: Working paper

Dynamic Gains from Trade: The Role of Intermediate Inputs and Equipment Imports: Working paper

Transparency Mechanisms and Non-Tariff Measures: Case Studies: Working paper

The Political Economy of Services in Regional Trade Agreements: Working paper

Trade and Innovation: Pharmaceuticals: Working paper

TRANSPORTATION

Improving the Practice of Transport Project Appraisal: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Speakers announced for International Transport Forum 2011, to be held 25-27 May 2011: Announcement

FROM THE OECD INSIGHTS BLOG

Kate and Will vs Charles and Diana – how the times they are a changing
For today’s cut out and keep Royal Wedding Special, our court correspondent Spencer Wilson took some time off from polishing his top hat to tell us what the OECD’s evidence-based horoscope says about the young couple. Read more

It's a family affair
Remember what Tolstoy said about families? “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” But what is it that makes a family happy or safeguards its well-being? A new OECD report, Doing Better for Families, provides some answers, and looks at what governments can do to support the family in a time of rapid social change.. Read more

Ineffective, Inconsistent and Dangerous
Contribution form Pierre Habbard of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD. In 2010 in the wake of the recession, the policy consensus at the OECD – alongside the IMF, the European Commission and many G20 Finance Ministries – shifted away from support for stimulating global demand to near-term fiscal consolidation. Their priority became reducing sovereign debt through unprecedented budget austerity programmes, the costs of which will be borne almost entirely by workers and their families: cuts in public services and in social protection, regressive tax reforms, and downward wage flexibility. At the same time, the much needed re-regulation and downsizing of the financial sector, which triggered the crisis in the first place, was either scaled back or postponed until “better days”. This policy response is ineffective, inconsistent, and ultimately dangerous. Read more

ABCDE 2011: Broadening Opportunities for Development
These are uncertain times for decision makers concerned with development issues. The global financial crisis and its after-effects have tested their ability to facilitate job creation, improve education, equip young people with marketable skills, and design effective social protection programmes. How might people be provided with better opportunities to access education and health services, and other forms of human capital? How might they be provided with access to affordable financial services and the ability to own land or other assets? How can better service delivery be ensured? And how can gender equality be promoted and ensured? At ABCDE 2011, which will be co-hosted by the OECD, the Government of France and the World Bank, four distinguished policy makers and academics will deliver keynote speeches. Read more