15 MAY 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

OECD's 50th Anniversary Week, May 24-26, 2011, to focus on Better Policies for Better Lives. It will include the annual OECD Ministerial Meeting and the annual OECD Forum. Press release | Webpage

Better Policies for Better Lives: The OECD at 50 and Beyond is a colorful new brochure celebrating OECD’s 50th Anniversary by looking backwards at its history of achievements and forwards to what OECD is doing regarding the many challenges society is facing: Free PDF (2.92 mb)

Better Life Index to be launched May 24: Announcement | See video

Spending for seniors to double or more by 2050, says Help Wanted? Providing and Paying for Long-Term Care: Press release | Book announcement with country notes | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD PUBLISHING NEWS

Better Life Index to be launched May 24: Announcement | See video

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

Distribution of Support and Income in Agriculture: Working paper

Forthcoming
-Evaluation of Agricultural Policy Reforms in the European Union: Book listing

BUSINESS & MARKETS

Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Kazakhstan 2010: Sector Competitiveness Strategy: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Funding in Public Sector Pension Plans: International Evidence: Working paper

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: Republic of Moldova 2011: Fostering SME Development: Book listing
-Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Central Asia 2011: Competitiveness Outlook: 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

Multilateral Aid 2010: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary Print version to come out at end of May.

NEPAD-OECD Conference focuses on mobilising investment in infrastructure and agriculture in Africa. Website includes papers presented: Website

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

InnovaLatino.org launched in Madrid to report on innovation in Latin America: Press release

Forthcoming
-African Economic Outlook 2011: Africa's Emerging Partners: Book listing
-OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Book listing

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

Deeper structural reforms, and fiscal consolidation will strenghten Italian recovery, says OECD Economic Surveys: Italy 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Mexico recovery on track but reforms needed in tax, labour policy and education says OECD Economic Surveys: Mexico 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Capital flows debate offers an opportunity to shape financial globalization, says Getting the Most out of International Capital Flows, an article in the forthcoming OECD Economic Outlook: Press release

OECD Economics Department Working Papers:
-No. 860: French Social Housing in an International Context
-No. 861: Making the French Housing Market Work Better
-No. 862: Surveillance by International Institutions: Lessons from the Global Financial and Economic Crisis

Forthcoming
-OECD Economic Surveys: iceland 2011
-OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2011, Issue 1 (Preliminary edition to be released 25 May 2011).

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

Better Life Index to be launched May 24: Announcement | See video

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

Composite leading indicators (CLIs) are pointing to some divergence in the pace of economic activity across major economies: Press release

OECD unemployment rate remains at 8.2% in March: Press release

OECD annual inflation accelerates to 2.7% in March 2011: Press release

Forthcoming
-OECD Statistics on International Trade in Services 2010, Volume II, Detailed Tables by Partner Country: Book listing

EDUCATION

OECD Skills Strategy being launched. The OECD is preparing a Skills Strategy with the aim of fostering a cross-government, peer-learning approach towards improving the supply of, anticipating the demand for, and optimising the use of skills in the workforce to promote economic growth and social inclusion. Website | Brochure (PDF - 1.09 mb)

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

Forthcoming
-Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Tertiary Education and Employment: Book listing
-Against the Odds: Disadvantaged Students Who Succeed in School
-Designing for Education: Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities 2011

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

OECD Social Affairs Ministers agree to common principles to promote social cohesion and limit the negative social and economic effects of widespread job and income losses during the recent recession. Communiqué | Website

Job-Rich Growth in Asia: Strategies for Local Employment, Skills Development and Social Protection: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Forthcoming
-Jobs Tasks, Works Skills and the Labour Market
-International Migration Outlook 2011: Book listing

ENERGY

Energy-efficient Buildings: Heating and Cooling Equipment shows how to achieve dramatic energy savings in the buildings sector by 2050: Press release | Report (PDF 2.21 mb)

Oil prices fall and demand forecasts are trimmed says May 2011 Oil Market Report: Report

High prices will lead to a dip in US gasoline demand this year, says IEA: Press release

‘Co-generation’ combined with renewables is a crucial component of low-carbon future: Latest information

Boosting the efficiency of Russia’s coal-fired power plants is a ‘win-win’ move: Press release

IEA conducts ‘Emergency Response Assessment’ on Thailand: Press release

Diverse mix of energy sources are needed to decarbonise European electricity supply, says IEA Executive Director: Press release

Electric vehicles: are they a passing fad, or here to stay? Latest information

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

ENVIRONMENT

Norway should do more to improve climate and biodiversity says OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Norway 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Regional Trade Agreements and the Environment: Developments in 2010: Working paper

Regional Trade Agreements and the Environment: Monitoring Implementation and Assessing Impacts: Working paper

OECD Green Growth Strategy Newsletter, May 2011 includes articles on green growth during OECD Week, green growth reports for the OECD Ministerial Meeting, green growth and development, and the international green growth dialogue site: Newsletter

Brazil joins OECD agreement on mutual acceptance of chemical safety data: Announcement

Forthcoming
-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

Spending for seniors to double or more by 2050, says Help Wanted? Providing and Paying for Long-Term Care: Press release | Book announcement with country notes | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Health at a Glance: Asia/Pacific 2010: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary (Book previously listed; print copies now available)

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

The Protection of Children Online: Working paper

Forthcoming
-OECD Communications Outlook 2011

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Slovenia joins the Nuclear Energy Agency: Press release

Governments and industry must change practices to ensure security of supply of medical radioisotopes: Press release

Biannual meeting of the OECD/NEA Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy: Summary

NEA Annual Report 2010: Report

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Restoring Public Finances outlines fiscal consolidation policies of 30 OECD countries: Report (PDF - 1.54 mb)

Boosting innovation should be central to regional development policy, OECD says in Regions and Innovation Policy: Press release | Book announcement with links to country profiles | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Funding in Public Sector Pension Plans: International Evidence: Working paper

Forthcoming:
-Government at a Glance 2011: Book listing
-OECD Urban Policy Reviews, Poland 2011: Book listing
-Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust, Volume 2: Promoting integrity through Self-Regulation: Book listing
-OECD Regions at a Glance 2011: Book listing
-OECD Public Governance Reviews: Estonia 2011: Towards a Single Government Approach: Book listing

SCIENCE , TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY

Boosting innovation should be central to regional development policy, OECD says in Regions and Innovation Policy: Press release | Book announcement with links to country profiles | 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

OECD Steel Committee says global outlook promising but risks remain: Press release

Forthcoming
-Demand-Side Innovation Policies: Book listing
-OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy: Russian Federation 2011
-The Space Economy at a Glance 2011

SMEs & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Job-Rich Growth in Asia: Strategies for Local Employment, Skills Development and Social Protection: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Leveraging Training Skills Development in SMEs: Working paper

Green Jobs Strategy and the Transition to the Low-Carbon Economy in Northern Virginia: Working paper

Forthcomimg:
-Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2010: Book listing

TAXATION

Trend towards falling tax burdens reversed in 2010, says Taxing Wages
2010: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Model Tax Convention: a discussion draft on the meaning of “beneficial owner” is released: Announcement | Discussion draft (PDF - 292 kb)

Forthcoming:
-Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Jersey 2011: Phases 1 & 2
-The Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters: Amended by the 2010 Protocol: Book listing

TRADE

Regional Trade Agreements and the Environment: Developments in 2010: Working paper

Regional Trade Agreements and the Environment: Monitoring Implementation and Assessing Impacts: Working paper

Forthcoming:
-OECD Statistics on International Trade in Services 2010, Volume II, Detailed Tables by Partner Country: Book listing

TRANSPORTATION

Kick-off for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety: Announcement

Moving Freight with Better Trucks: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Gender and Transport: Discussion paper (PDF 674 kb)

Economic Perspectives on Transport and Equality: Discussion paper (PDF - 1.02 mb)

International Transport Forum Newsletter, May 2011 announces finalists for awards: Newsletter

Session Outlines and Discussion Papers for International Transport Forum 2011, to be held 25-27 May 2011, now available: Announcement | Documents

Forthcomin
-Better Economic Regulation: The Role of the Regulator: Book listing

FROM THE OECD INSIGHTS BLOG

Join the gang. Better still, don’t
Most of us like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists – people who don’t run with the herd. The reality is less romantic: As countless bubbles have shown – from Dutch tulip mania in the 17th century to inflated property prices in the past decade – the prospect of a quick buck means there’s usually no shortage of people happy to get swept along. The financial crisis illustrated the risks of such herd behaviour. But it also cast a light on another sort of dangerous collective thinking – groupthink. And it didn’t just happen at national level – even the IMF has admitted that its internal culture tended to silence dissent. In a commendably frank report, the IMF’s evaluation office says one reason why the organisation failed to identify the mounting risks to the global economy was “a high degree of groupthink”... Read more

Thanks, but no thanks! Young people fighting against precarious internships
For young graduates, entering the labour market nowadays is not an easy task. The transition from education to employment is long, marked with little stability, low income and tasks that rarely correspond to acquired knowledge and skills. Postgraduate internships are a typical example. This practice is spreading in many countries, and is often used by industries with very healthy profit margins. Young people are queuing up and competing for 3-month unpaid internships, usually with no prospects of a permanent contract. And after one internship there will have to be another and then another. For many young people this will a be a sacrifice leading to nowhere.. Read more

Why it's getting harder to be really rich
Seventy million pounds – or about $114 million: That’s how much you now need to get on to The Sunday Times “rich list” (subscribers only) in the UK. A pretty steep entry barrier and, perhaps surprisingly, it’s even higher than it was before the crisis: Just three years ago, a mere £55 million would have won you a place among the UK’s wealthiest. That’s further evidence that the gap between the incomes of the richest and the poorest is widening. But as a recent OECD paper demonstrates, it’s not happening just in the UK. Income inequality has risen in all but a handful of OECD countries. Read more

Road kill
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have been joined by a fifth, but he’s driving a car. If current trends continue, more people will be killed in traffic accidents in the 21st century than were killed by wars in the 20th. The WHO says that without action, road traffic crashes will kill around 1.9 million people a year by 2020 and injure 20-50 million more. They’re already the leading cause of death for people aged 15-29. Yet figures from the International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group (a working group of the Joint Transport Research Centre of the OECD and the International Transport Forum) paint a different picture. According to IRTAD’s latest data, the average annual reduction in the number of deaths in IRTAD member countries in 2000-2009 was higher than in the three preceding decades. Read more

AHELO: Telling you what you need to know about higher education outcomes
AHELO is the first attempt at measuring at international level what third-year undergraduate degree students have learned and are capable of doing. It will produce measures at institution or department level, not at national level, unlike other OECD studies such as PISA or PIAAC. At this stage, we’re testing the feasibility of measuring learning outcomes in institutions in different countries, with different missions, languages and cultural backgrounds. In fact non-OECD countries make up nearly a third of the participants – Colombia, Egypt, Kuwait, Russia, and Saudi Arabia as observer. We’re focusing to begin with on generic skills (the so-called 21st Century skills – critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving and written communication) and skills in economics and engineering. Read more