The World Economy: Getting it Right in 2011: OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría speaks out at Davos: Speech
Tax: Laws in some countries do not meet global standards. The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax purposes, hosted by the OECD, has released ten reports which evaluate jurisdictions’ commitment to tax transparency and examine whether information is made available and accessible to foreign tax authorities. These reports follow eight others released in September 2010 and listed in the December 15 2010 What's New: Press Release
Phase 1 Reviews
Combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 Reviews

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OECD changes the way it publishes statistical periodicals. Starting with the January 2011 issue, Main Economic Indicators is being presented in a dynamic new format. On the OECD iLibrary, all 105 subject and country tables in each issue will be available in three formats: WEB, XLS and PDF. Each of the tables appears in the issue's online table of contents and is discoverable via search, enabling the user to easily find, use and cite the data. See the issue: January 2011 MEI
As part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations, the OECD is having a video competition for young people! If you are, or you know someone, aged between 18 and 25 and like making short videos, tell us what you think “Progress is”. Three lucky winners will be selected and invited to Paris in May, all-expenses-paid, for a special screening of the videos at the OECD Forum. Videos should be no longer than three minutes, made in English or French (OECD’s two official languages), and submitted by midnight (Paris, France time) on 1 March 2011: www.oecd.org/videocontest
OECD Subscription Prices for 2011: Prices
OECD publications will be on
exhibit at the following events in the coming months:
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SLA-Arabian Gulf Chapter – 17th Annual Conference & Exhibition, 8-10 March, - Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental, Muscat, Oman
- Computers in Libraries
2011, 21-23 March 2011, Washington, DC,
USA
- Association
of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 30 March
- 2 April 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- 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

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Corporate Governance in Chile: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary
OECD Banking Statistics: Methodological Country Notes 2010: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary
Central Asia: More diversified and competitive economies would attract investors, says Central Asia Competitiveness Outlook: Key Findings (PDF - 1.13 mb. Full book to be published soon)
Systemic Financial Risks - background paper for OECD's Future Global Shocks project: Paper (PDF - 1.13 mb)
Housing: Better policies will promote economic growth says "Housing the Economy: Policies for Renovation", to be published in the forthcoming Economic Policy Reform 2011: Going for Growth: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop | Article (PDF - 879 kb) Article to appear on OECD iLibrary shortly.
Forthcoming
-The Impact of the Financial Crisis on the Insurance Sector and Policy Responses: Book listing
-Risk Awareness, Capital Markets and Catastrophic Risks: Book listing
-Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Kazakhstan 2010: Sector Competitiveness Strategy: Book listing

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Consolidate policy advances to create a Latin American decade, say leaders at OECD-IDB conference: Summary of conference
The Development Assistance Committee: Fifty Years, Fifty Highlights: Report (PDF 920 kb)
Officical Development Assistance contract opportunities: Website

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Swedish economy on track but long-term unemployment a problem says OECD Economic Survey: Sweden 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary
Well functioning housing markets are key for stability and growth: Press release | Report (PDF - 879 kb)
Time is opportune for reforms to boost growth and reduce inequality in Colombia says OECD assessment: Announcement | Report (PDF - 908 kb)
OECD’s Gurría welcomes Spain's pension reform plan: Press release
OECD Economics Department
Working Papers:
-No. 837: The Price Responsiveness of Housing Supply in OECD Countries
-No. 836: Housing Markets and Structural Policies in OECD Countries
-No. 835: Raising Potential Growth after the Crisis
-No. 834: The GDP Impact of Reform: A Simple Simulation Framework
-No. 833: Improving the Flexibility of the Dutch Housing Market to Enhance Labour Mobility
-No. 832: Making the Dutch Pension System Less Vulnerable to Financial Crises
-No. 831: Real House Prices in OECD Countries
-No. 830: International Financial Integration and the External Positions of Euro Area Countries
-No. 829: Improving Fiscal Performance Through Fiscal Councils
-No. 828: Minimising Risks from Imbalances in European Banking
-No. 827: Resolving and Avoiding Unsustainable Imbalances in the Euro Area
-No. 826: Current Account Imbalances in the Euro Area
-No. 825: Does Fiscal Decentralisation Strengthen Social Capital?
-No. 824: Fiscal Decentralisation and Public Investment
-No. 823: Product Market Regulation and Competition in China
Forthcoming
-OECD Economic Surveys: Slovenia 2011: Book listing

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OECD changes the way it publishes statistical periodicals. Starting with the January 2011 issue, Main Economic Indicators is being presented in a dynamic new format. On the OECD iLibrary, all 105 subject and country tables in each issue will be available in three formats: WEB, XLS and PDF. Each of the tables appears in the issue's online table of contents and is discoverable via the search mechanism, enabling the user to easily find, use and cite the data. See the issue: January 2011 MEI
OECD Statistics on International Trade in Services 2010, Volume I: Detailed Tables by Service Category: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary
Measuring the Progress of Societies: Wikiprogress Newsletter No. 8 includes articles on the Human Development Report, the Multidimensional Poverty Index, Slovenian reflections on measuring progress, Turning statistics into knowledge in Africa, Measuring Australia's progress, and the Sustainable Society Index. Newsletter (PDF - 1.14 mb)
Higher energy prices push OECD annual inflation rate up to 2.1%: Press release
Forthcoming:
-National Accounts at a Glance 2010: Book listing

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Educationtoday: OECD's collaborative space to help shape the post-crisis economy and society: Educationtoday
Forthcoming
-Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education: Lessons from PISA for the United States: Book listing
-Reviews of National Policies for Education: Kyrgyz Republic 2010 Lessons from PISA: Book listing
-Higher Education in Regional and City Development: The Galilee, Israel: Book Listing

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Short-time work schemes had an economically important impact on preserving jobs during the downturn, says "The Role of Short-Time Work Schemes during the 2008-09 Recession": Working paper.
Social Unrest - background paper for OECD's Future Global Shocks project: Paper (PDF - 1.23 mb)
Forthcoming
-Pensions at a Glance 2011: Retirement Income Systems in OECD and G20 Countries: Book listing

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Chinks in the chain: What causes disruptions to the supply of oil? Information
Development of Energy Efficiency Indicators in Russia: Working Paper
Energy Transition for Industry: India and the Global Context: Working Paper
New report gives green light to the feasibility of halving carbon emissions from new cars by 2030: Press release | Report (PDF - 3.29 mb)
Countries must act now to achieve a secure and cleaner energy future, says IEA’s Executive Director at World Future Energy Summit: Press release

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Forthcoming
-Greening Household Behaviour: Book listing
-Environmental Impacts of International Shipping: The Role of Ports: Book listing

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Pandemics - background paper for OECD's Future Global Shocks project: Paper (PDF - 2.51 mb)

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Reducing Systemic Cybersecurity Risk - background paper for OECD's Future Global Shocks project: Paper (PDF - 1.45 mb)
Geomagnetic Storms - background paper for OECD's Future Global Shocks project: Paper (PDF - 1.87 mb)

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Workforce Skills and Innovation: An Overview of Major Themes in the Literature: Working Paper
Geomagnetic Storms - background paper for OECD's Future Global Shocks project: Paper (PDF - 1.87 mb)

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Joining the LEED Partners' Cub: Become a member of the LEED's worldwide network of sub-national governments, development and research agencies, business organisations, private sector entities and foundations. Announcement

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Tax: Laws in some countries do not meet global standards. The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax purposes, hosted by the OECD, has released ten reports which evaluate jurisdictions’ commitment to tax transparency and examine whether information is made available and accessible to foreign tax authorities. These reports follow eight others released in September 2010 and listed in the December 15 2010 What's New: Press Release
Phase 1 Reviews
Combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 Reviews
Tax Administration in OECD and Selected Non-OECD Countries: Comparative Information Series: Report (PDF 4.77 mb)

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OECD Statistics on International Trade in Services 2010, Volume I: Detailed Tables by Service Category: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary
Quanitfying Regulatory Barriers to Services Trade. (this is an older paper that was only recently added to the iLibrary): Working Paper

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Prizeworthy: Mobility Solutions that Put People First: 2011 Transport Achievement Award Call for Application: Announcement
Apply Now for the 2011 Young Researcher of the Year Award! (Transport Research Prize of International Transport Forum at the OECD): Announcement
Forthcoming
-Environmental Impacts of International Shipping: The Role of Ports: Book listing

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Innovation shifting to emerging markets?
When China’s Tianhe-1A supercomputer with its peak speed of 2.57 petaflops was confirmed as the most powerful computer in the world in November 2010, outpacing the previous leader, the US XTC Jaguar, it was more than a breakthrough for computing. It was a further sign that the geography of global growth, which had already been shifting to emerging markets for quality manufacturing and some IT services, was on the move for knowledge and innovation as well.
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Egyptian plan to evacuate cities
As regular readers know, that headline was a cheap trick to get you to read this. It actually refers to the 2010 laureate of the International Transport Forum’s Young Researcher of the Year Award. Hossam Abdelgawad, a 27-year-old Egyptian PhD-candidate from the University of Toronto, won the prize for a novel approach to the mass evacuation of major cities in case of a catastrophe. Whether you think what’s happening in Egypt just now is a catastrophe, a festival of the oppressed, or something else, depends on your personal point of view. What’s clear is that what started as protest movement inspired by people from similar backgrounds to Hossam Abdelgawad now has major economic and geopolitical repercussions. Read more
Between two worlds: A Chinese student in the US
On August 14, 2010, I boarded a 14-hour flight to America, leaving China for the first time. I had never been to America before, but people always said I would fit in, mainly because I argued with my teachers and insisted I wanted to be a filmmaker. So when I was 10, my parents had sent me to weekend classes taught by foreign tutors. After school I spent all my pocket money on pirated Hollywood DVDs and watched every episode of Friends. Soon I concluded that America was a rich and cool country with lots of kids like me. Read more
Governance in spotlight at Davos
Davos got under way this week. If you’re disappointed not to be going, you can at least console yourself by reflecting on all the money you’re saving – at least $71,000, says The New York Times! What will you be missing? Failures in global governance look set to be a key agenda item for movers and shakers at the Swiss mountain resort this year. What the World Economic Forum defines as “weak or inadequate global institutions, agreements or networks” is identified as one of two “cross-cutting global risks” in the latest edition of the forum’s Global Risks report. Read more
Property policies - Some renovation required
Spare a thought for Alison O’Riordan. In 2008, she “ploughed in head first” and paid an eye-watering €525,000 – about $700,000 – for an apartment in Dublin. Just two years later, as Irish property prices crashed, neighbouring apartments were fetching less than half that. As Ms. O’Riordan discovered, she was among the last to be sucked into the Irish property bubble: fewer than a dozen of the properties in the complex were sold. To buy or to rent? An agonising question, especially when you know that getting it wrong could seriously hurt your finances. But, as the recent crisis demonstrated, such decisions can have a much wider economic impact – look to how countries like Spain, Ireland and the United States are still coping with the hangover from property bubbles. That’s one reason why there’s increasing interest in how government policy can shape individuals’ housing decisions and reduce the harmful side-effects on the economy. A new paper from the OECD looks at a number of these issues, and argues for policies that would reduce volatility in home prices and provide greater flexibility for buyers and renters. Read more
Haiti earthquake: Independent evaluations needed
It has been called one of the worst disasters in human history. The earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 saw destruction on an unprecedented scale. Some 230,000 people lost their lives and 300,000 more were injured. Over 1 million people were left homeless. In response, the international community mounted a massive humanitarian relief effort. The Red Cross, for instance, deployed the single largest country response in its 148 year history. People around the world gave millions in charitable donations and governments pledged $5.8 billion for relief and recovery. And yet, as the world marks the one year commemoration, many of us are disappointed with the overall result. Over 800,000 people are still living in camps, and day-to-day conditions are extremely challenging for many Haitians. Journalists and experts in and outside of Haiti have criticised the United Nations, the donor community and NGOs for failing to improve conditions. Read more
What's gone wrong with microcredit?
Five years ago, microcredit was going to “put poverty in the museum”. The concept earned its creator, economist Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel prize and was hailed by aid workers, activists and journalists. Today, microcredit – or the provision of small loans to some of the world’s poorest people – gets less glowing coverage: News stories report that it is in “crisis” or a “mess”, or “under siege”. What’s gone wrong? Read more
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