LIBRARIANS' EDITION, 15 JUNE 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

Africa should embrace new economic giants and boost social inclusion says African Economic Outlook 2011: Africa and its Emerging Partners: Press release | AEO Website | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Further reforms must ensure strong growth is long-lasting and benefits all, says OECD Economic Surveys: India 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD PUBLISHING NEWS

Counter-compliant usage statistics for the OECD iLibrary are now available! See the Feature Note

OECD Compendium of Well-being Indicators from the Better Life Initiative: Compendium (PDF - 1.5 mb) | Better Life Index

OECD Key Publications Catalogue, May 2011: Catalogue

OECD iLibrary: Brochure

OECD Subscription Prices for 2011: Prices

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

• American Libraries Association, 23-28 June 2011, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• EIFL General Assembly, 26 - 28 June, Minsk, Belarus
  
• Österreichischer Bibliothekartag, 18-21 October, Innsbruck, Austria
  

AGRICULTURE/FOOD/FISHERIES

Forthcoming
-Evaluation of Agricultural Policy Reforms in the European Union: Book listing
-International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables: Asparagus
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Food and Agriculture
-OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011: Book listing

BUSINESS & MARKETS

The OECD recommends more far-reaching reforms to improve the business climate in Morocco: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop (available only in French) | Book on OECD iLibrary

Enhancing the Role of the Boards of Directors of State-Owned Enterprises: Working paper

Competitive Neutrality and State-Owned Enterprises: Working paper

Quick and measurable action needed to tackle bribery and corruption in the Arab region, says OECD and UNDP: Press release

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
-Strengthening Latin American Corporate Governance: The Role of Institutional Investors
-OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Ukraine 2011: Book listing

DEVELOPMENT

Africa should embrace new economic giants and boost social inclusion says African Economic Outlook 2011: Africa and its Emerging Partners: Press release | AEO Website | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Denmark’s aid funding and policies set good examples says Development Co-operation Review: Press release | Main Findings | Full report (PDF - 1.65 mb)

Secretary-General addresses ABCDE Conference: Speech

"Stay With Us?" The Impact of Emigration on Wages in Honduras: Working paper

Public Infrastructure Investment and Fiscal Sustainability in Latin America: Working paper

Forthcoming
-OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Book listing
-Development in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine: Book listing

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

Further reforms must ensure strong growth is long-lasting and benefits all, says OECD Economic Surveys: India 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Economics Department Working Papers:
-No. 871: The Growth Effects of Current Account Reversals
-No. 872: Tax Competition Between Sub-Central Governments
-No. 873: Towards a Better Understanding of the Informal Economy
-No. 874: A Dynamic Factor Model for World Trade Growth

Forthcoming
-OECD Economic Surveys: Iceland 2011: Book listing
-OECD Economic Surveys: Belgium 2011: Book listing
-Directory of Bodies of the OECD: Book listing

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

Merchandise Trade continues to grow strongly in first quarter of 2011: Press release

Composite leading indicators signal mild loss of growth momentum: Press release

OECD growth steady at 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 but diverging trends across major economies: Press release

OECD unemployment rate drops to 8.1% in April, resuming downward path: Press release

OECD Journal: Journal of Business Cycle Measurement and Analysis, Volume 2011 Issue 1 includes articles on aggregate comovements, anticipation and business cycles; forecasting by means of the principle covariate index; forecasting performance of composite leading indicators; the usefulness of qualitative inflation expectations; and inflation expectations in Turkey: Subscribe to OECD Journal on Online Bookshop | View Issue on OECD iLibrary

Cycle Extraction: A Comparison of the Phase-Average Trend Method, the Hodrick-Prescott and Christiano-Fitzgerald Filters: Working paper

Forthcoming
-National Accounts of OECD Countries, General Government Accounts 2011: Book listing

EDUCATION

Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Tertiary Education and Employment: Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

How do some students overcome their socio-economic background? PISA InFocus 5

How OECD works with countries to improve education: Webpage

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

Forthcoming
-Against the Odds: Disadvantaged Students Who Succeed in School
-Designing for Education: Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities 2011
-Reviews of National Policies for Education: Improving Lower Secondary Schools in Norway 2011: Book listing

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

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

ENERGY

Are we entering a golden age of gas? Special pre-release report from World Energy Outlook 2011: Webpage

Statement from IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka following OPEC meeting: Statement

IEATechnology Roadmap: Geothermal Heat and Power tells how to achieve at least a tenfold increase in supply of geothermal power and heat: Press release | Report (PDF - 4.33 mb)

Forthcoming
-Medium-Term Oil and Gas Markets 2011
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Energy

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Enforcement in Decentralised Governance Systems: Working paper

Forthcoming
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Energy
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Food and Agriculture

HEALTH

Forthcoming
-OECD Health Data 2011

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

More effective competition and better regulation needed to cut high mobile data roaming costs, says International Mobile Data Roaming report: Press release | Working paper

Forthcoming
-OECD Communications Outlook 2011: Book listing

NUCLEAR ENERGY

NEA holds ministerial-level seminar on nuclear safety following the Fukushima accident: Press release

Nuclear regulatory authorities decide on follow-up to the Fukushima Daiichi accident: Press release

NEA Monthly News Bulletin expands on two topics above: Newsletter

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Forthcoming:
-Government at a Glance 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

Russia should books innovation to drive economic growth, says OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy: Russian Federation 2011: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Forthcoming
-The Space Economy at a Glance 2011

SMEs & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Forthcomimg:
-Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2011: Book listing
-OECD Studies on Tourism: Italy: Review of Issues and Policies

TAXATION

OECD releases a Multi-Country Analysis of Existing Transfer Pricing Simplification Measures for comment: Document

OECD Model Tax Convention: a discussion draft on tax treaty issues related to the trading of emissions permits: Announcement and link to draft

Updated Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters now available to all countries: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: France 2011: Combined: Phase 1 + Phase 2: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Hungary 2011: Phase 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Isle of Man 2011: Combined: Phase 1 + Phase 2: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Italy 2011: Combined: Phase 1 + Phase 2: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: New Zealand 2011: Combined: Phase 1 + Phase 2: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: The Philippines 2011: Phase 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Singapore 2011: Phase 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Switzerland 2011: Phase 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: United States 2011: Combined: Phase 1 + Phase 2: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Forthcoming:
-Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes Peer Reviews: Jersey 2011: Phases 1 & 2

TRADE

Merchandise Trade continues to grow strongly in first quarter of 2011: Press release

TRANSPORTATION

Key Messages from the Summit of Global Transport Ministers: Report (PDF 360 kb)

Ministerial Statement on the Strategic Review of the International Transport Forum: Report (PDF - 360 kb)

FROM THE OECD INSIGHTS BLOG

From the ABCDE Conference:

ABCDE: Combine our knowledge and best practices
It is only natural that we sharpen our focus on development. The epicenter of economic activity is shifting from industrialised countries to the large developing countries and, more than ever, their future growth prospects are closely intertwined. Over the past decade, a group of emerging and developing countries has achieved remarkable advances in terms of growth and development. They have lifted millions of people out of extreme poverty, becoming a vital development source of trade, investment and aid. If current trends continue, we anticipate that developing countries will account for nearly 60% of global GDP by 2030. Read more

ABCDE: Focusing on inequality or poverty reduction is not enough
Day two of the 2011 ABCDE conference has just finished and so far, the conference has given me a lot to think about. There seems a growing consensus that high levels of inequality are not conducive to sustained growth and development. At the Development Centre we go beyond this, arguing that societies that are growing rapidly and undergoing significant structural changes could see their growth trajectories compromised unless they put in place policies to help manage the process. What is less clear is what policies should be employed, and in what order. Given the extensive changes that many countries are experiencing, focusing on inequality or poverty reduction is not enough.  Rapid economic growth may be instrumental to reducing poverty, but if large parts of the population get absorbed into the informal sector for example, then these “non-poor” will remain very vulnerable over time. Read more

ABCDE: Working Your Way Out of Fragility and Violence: How Jobs Matter
Globally there are about 30-40 conflict-affected and fragile states – all feature little formal employment, high poverty and, importantly, booming populations. Today, the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) discussed the challenge of why job creation matters in situations of fragility and how it can be done. It matters for two reasons. First, jobs are likely to create stability because they make violence less attractive and increase interdependencies. Second, employment gives people a sense of self-worth and the means to start shaping their future. Both are critical to reducing conflict and fragility. The challenge is to generate jobs fast enough in these complex and volatile settings. Evidence and experts suggest that focus need to be on increasing agriculture productivity and public works schemes as starting points. Read more

ABCDE: For effective development, listen, learn and measure more than GDP
Hal Varian, Google’s chief economist, famously remarked recently that being a statistician would be the sexiest profession of the 21st century. After hearing discussions at this week’s Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics, I think he may be on to something. The conference has confirmed my view that good data is an essential ingredient for development. I’m not just talking about how data has illuminated many of the excellent conference papers and debates. I’m also talking about how data helps governments design and measure better policies for better lives. After focusing on growth for a long time, we now know that we need to look at a much more nuanced picture of societal progress – it takes more than income to make lives better. What about better health? What about a cleaner environment? These issues are important to people, and we need to start measuring them better and more prominently.  In this context, I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the OECD’s new Better Life Initiative, which allows individuals to build a personal index using their own better life indicators. Read more

Bugs, drugs and death
Would you eat animal excrement if the flavour was right? Mayu Yamamoto of the International Medical Center of Japan thinks you might, and won the 2007 Ig Nobel for chemistry for developing a way to extract vanilla fragrance from cow dung. The Japanese team were looking for ways to tackle a major environmental problem in the country. Livestock produce 50 million tons of excrement each year, and almost all farms are located close to residential areas in Japan, increasing the dangers of pollution – bacteria like E. coli are one of the most widely used indicators of faecal contamination of water. The case in Germany is only the latest in a long list of deadly outbreaks. However, although it is a particularly nasty variant, there are no signs that E. o104 (the present strain of E. coli) is the mutant superbug epidemiologists have nightmares about. It is though a warning about drug resistance. Read more

OECD: From economic NATO to epistemic influence
This post is from Professor Aynsley Kellow of the University of Tasmania School of Government, who with his colleague Professor Peter Carroll of the Business Faculty, has just published The OECD: A Study in Organisational Adaptation in which they present a critical examination of the trajectory of the OECD, from its origins in the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) to the present day.Peter and I both had the experience of looking for a definitive book on the OECD to tell us about its structure and operations. We found no such work. Shorter treatments told us little. A chapter on environmental policy in the European Union and the OECD devoted about twenty pages to the EU and around four to the OECD. The OECD was a neglected topic. It is no longer quite as neglected, with a book by Richard Woodward published recently. Our book coincides with the OECD’s 50th Anniversary, though that was not our intention: we would have gladly finished it sooner!
Read more

Does peacebuilding bring peace?How much do you think it would cost to achieve the Millennium Development Goals? Among other things, that would mean cutting extreme poverty by half in 2015 compared with 1990, achieving universal primary education, and cutting the under-5 mortality rate by two-thirds and maternal mortality by three-quarters. In 2002, the World Bank came up with a figure of an extra $40-$60 billion a year in foreign aid. Let’s assume that prices have doubled since then, and it would now cost $120 billion. That’s a gigantic sum of money, but it’s peanuts compared to a figure in the 2011 Yearbook of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): military expenditure in 2010 increased by 1.3% in real terms to reach $1630 billion. The top three arms dealers each had sales of around $33 billion. Read more

Goodbye conflict, welcome development?
What can be done to say “goodbye conflict, welcome development” as the slogan of the g7+ group of fragile countries hopes? The second global meeting of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding being held in Monrovia, Liberia on 15-16 June gives conflict-affected states a common voice in their discussions with international partners, and for the first time, these states themselves will make commitments on the concrete steps they’ll take to change things. Two outcomes are targeted. First, a new agreement on peacebuilding and statebuilding priorities is required. Second, a commitment on how to realise these is needed. Security, justice, and jobs are priorities for conflict-affected communities. Without security and the assurance that people can go about their daily lives in safety, the rest is meaningless. Read more

Want a better life? Put your mind to it.
Everybody thinks on occasion about how life might be improved.  But working towards that better life means solving a certain number of knotty problems.   What do you think should be tackled first? Complex answers to this simple poll are much appreciated- just put them in the comments section.  Now, put your minds to it!
Take survey