1 APRIL 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

Recent pension reforms will still be insufficient to cover increased costs in the future, despite increases in retirement ages in half of OECD countries, according to Pensions at a Glance 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD PUBLISHING NEWS

OECD’s 50th Anniversary Video Contest has now been closed and the jury has selected finalists.  Now it is your chance to vote for your favourite video defining ‘Progress’.The quality of entries is very high, with submissions from across the globe.  Make sure you visit www.oecd.org/videocontest and vote before midday Paris, France (GMT+2) 14th April. Winners will be announced Friday 15th April. 

OECD Subscription Prices for 2011: Prices

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

• Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), 30 March - 2 April 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• UKSG, 4-6 April 2011, Harrogate, UK
• 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

Food Prices: Tackle volatility with better functioning markets, says OECD's Gurría: Press release

Forthcoming
-Agriculture and Food: Feeding Nine Billion People (OECD Insights Series): Book listing

BUSINESS & MARKETS

Recent pension reforms will still be insufficient to cover increased costs in the future, despite increases in retirement ages in half of OECD countries, according to Pensions at a Glance 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Corporate Governance in Israel 2011: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Corporate Governance in Slovenia 2011: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Canada’s enforcement of the foreign bribery offence still lagging; must urgently boost efforts to prosecute: Press release

Republic of Moldova: Fostering small and medium sized company development would boost economic growth: Announcement

Forthcoming
-Risk Awareness, Capital Markets and Catastrophic Risks: Book listing
-Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries: Book listing
-Financial Market Trends, Volume 2010, Issue 2: Subscribe to the OECD Journal
-Corporate Governance in Asia 2011: Progress and Challenges: Book listing
-Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Kazakhstan 2010: Sector Competitiveness Strategy: Book listing
-OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Book listing

DEVELOPMENT

Geographical Distribution of Financial Flows to Developing Countries: Disbursements, Commitments, Country Indicators 2005-2009: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Development Centre News, March 2011 includes an article on the Wikigender University Project: Newsletter

2011 Survey on Monitoring the Paris Declaration: Website

Task Team on South-South Cooperation - Second Call for Case Stories: Website

United Arab Emirates Statistical Reporting to the OECD Development Assistance Committee: Policy Brief (PDF - 627 kb)

Aid to Water and Sanitation: Webpage

Forthcoming:
-Economic Diversification in Africa: A Review of Selected Countries: Book listing
-Trade for Growth and Poverty Reduction: How Aid for Trade Can Help: Book listing

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

The OECD Economic Outlook Interim Economic Assessment will be released on 5 April 2011.

UK recovery slow, but fiscal consolidation must continue, says OECD Economic Survey: United Kingdom 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Maintaining Momentum: OECD Perspectives on Policy Challenges in Chile: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Limited effects from oil price hikes on economic activity and inflation: OECD Economics Department Policy Note (PDF - 301 kb)

The Fiscal Imperative. Article by Jean-Claude Trichet: Article

Housing and the Economy: Website

China: New era of opening up: Speech by S-G Gurría at the China Development Forum; Speech

OECD Economics Department Working Papers:
-No. 851: Meeting Infrastructure Needs in Australia
-No. 850: Restoring Fiscal Sustainability in Spain
-No. 849: Drivers of Homeownership Rates in Selected OECD Countries

Forthcoming
-OECD Economic Surveys: Estonia 2011: Book listing
-OECD Economic Surveys: Mexico 2011: Book listing
-OECD Economic Surveys: France 2011: Book listing
-OECD Economic Surveys: Italy 2011: Book listing
-OECD Economic Surveys: Japan 2011: Book listing
-Economic Policy Reforms 2011: Going for Growth: Book listing

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

National Accounts of OECD Countries, Volume 2011 Issue 1: Main Aggregates: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary | Database on OECD iLibrary

National Accounts of OECD Countries, Financial Accounts 2010: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary | Database on OECD iLibrary

International Trade by Commodity Statistics, Volume 2010 Issue 2: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Korea, Poland: Subscribe to periodical on Online Bookshop | View issue on OECD iLibrary | Database on OECD iLibrary

OECD annual inflation accelerates to 2.4% in February 2011: Press release

Statistics Brief No. 17, March 2011. This Statistics Brief provides some background on Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs), including their construction and application, and presents the new benchmark PPPs for 2008, produced as part of the Eurostat-OECD PPP programme. Brief (PDF - 1.33 mb)

Forthcoming
-National Accounts of OECD Countries, Financial Balance Sheets 2010: Book listing

EDUCATION

Quality Time for Students: Learning In and Out of School: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Building a High Quality Teaching Profession. OECD Secretary-General's speech at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession: Speech

The Case for 21st Century Learning. Article by Andreas Schleicher: Article

Educational Facility of the Week from the CELE Compendium: MFA & GGZ Zeeheldenbuurt, Tilburg, Netherlands: Webpage

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

Forthcoming
-Reviews of National Policies for Education: Kyrgyz Republic 2010 Lessons from PISA: Book listing
-PISA 2009 at a Glance: Book listing
-Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education: Lessons from PISA for the United States: Book listing

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Recent pension reforms will still be insufficient to cover increased costs in the future, despite increases in retirement ages in half of OECD countries, according to Pensions at a Glance 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

What Drives Inflows Into Disability?  Evidence from Three OECD Countries: Working paper

Decent work is not a slogan. Article by Sharan Burrow, ITUC: Article

Forthcoming
-Society at a Glance 2011: OECD Social Indicators: Book listing
-Naturalisation: A Passport for the Better Integration of Immigrants? Book listing
-Doing Better for Families: Book listing

ENERGY

Surge in oil prices poses threat to global economic recovery: Press release

Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Norway 2011 says Norway is well placed to make necessary investments for a low-carbon future: Press Release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Energy Policies of IEA Countries: New Zealand 2011 finds a relatively high level of energy security and economic prosperity for consumers but less progress in energy efficiency: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

IEA Oil Market Report, March 2011 discusses volatility in futures markets caused by events in Libya: Report

Interactions of Policies for Renewable Energy and Climate: Working paper

Walking the Torque:  Proposed Work Plan for Energy-Efficiency Policy Opportunities for Electric Motor-Driven Systems: Working paper

Caspian oil and gas exports are poised for take-off: Press release

Facts about Japan's energy supply following the earthquake/tsunami: Information note

Our future: A golden age for natural gas? Information note

IEA experts examine fluctuations in commodity prices: Webpage

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Impacts of International Shipping: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Better Policies to Support Eco-innovation shows how governments can boost green technologies: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary (Book previously announced. Print edition now available.)

Governments must invest in water and sanitation, says OECD on World Water Day: Webpage

Greening Growth in Japan: Working paper

Forthcoming
-OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Portugal 2011: Book listing
-Benefits of Investing in Water and Sanitation: An OECD Perspective: Book listing
-OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Norway 2011: Book listing

HEALTH

Restoring Public Finances: Can Cutting Healthcare Help? Article by Mark Pearson: Article

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

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

NUCLEAR ENERGY

NEA Monthly News Bulletin, March 2011 features articles on nuclear energy in Canada and Turkey and co-ordination between the NEA and the IAEA: News Bulletin

OECD/NEA Director-General speaks on Japan incident during a public hearing at the French Parliament: Video

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Government Budgets: Save or Spend? Aricle by Dae Whan Chang, World Knowlege Forum: Article

Value for Money in Government: The Netherlands 2010: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Territorial Reviews: NORA Region 2011: The Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Coastal Norway: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Forthcoming:
-OECD Urban Policy Reviews, Poland 2011: Book listing
-Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust, Volume 2: Promoting integrity through Self-Regulation: Book listing
-The Call for Innovative and Open Government: An Overview of Country Initiatives: Book listing

SCIENCE , TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRY

Main Science and Technology Indicators 2010/2: Publication Announcement | Periodical on Online Bookshop | Issue on OECD iLibrary

Better Policies to Support Eco-innovation shows how governments can boost green technologies: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary (Book previously announced. Print edition now available.)

Forthcoming:
-OECD Reviews of Regional Innovation: Basque Country, Spain 2011: Book listing

SMEs & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Forthcomimg:
-Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2010: Book listing

TAXATION

The Fiscal Imperative. Article by Jean-Claude Trichet: Article

OECD Fiscal Decentralised Database: Website

OECD meets with business commentators on the valuation of intangibles for transfer pricing purposes: Announcement

Outcomes of the Tax and Crime conference held in Oslo on 21-23 March: Closing Statement

International Tax Dialogue: Revenue Administration in Sub-Saharan Africa: Report (PDF - 1.46 mb)

Forthcoming:
-Taxing Wages 2010: Book listing

TRADE

To What Extent Are High-Quality Logistics Services Trade Facilitating? Working paper

Forthcoming
-Trade for Growth and Poverty Reduction: How Aid for Trade Can Help: Book listing

TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impacts of International Shipping: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

FROM THE OECD FACTBLOG

Unpaid work
From housework and homemaking to gardening and local activities, both women and men do so-called “unpaid work” on top of their paid jobs. But according to Cooking, Caring and Volunteering: Unpaid Work Around the World (OECD 2011), women do more unpaid work than men in every country. Read more

FROM THE OECD INSIGHTS BLOG

High times for the jet set
You can’t avoid inequality these days. Lately, it’s made the covers of The Atlantic and The Economist, and rarely a week seems to go by without some new report examining its impact. Even those on the sunny side of the rich-poor gap seem concerned: The “Davos Crowd” recently cited “economic disparity” as one of the two biggest risks facing the global economy. There isn’t much debate over whether or not income inequality is rising within countries. Almost everyone accepts it is. As these numbers show, it’s grown in all but a handful of OECD countries since the 1980s, although – as the OECD’s Growing Unequal? report points out – probably by not as much as most people think. But inequality hasn’t just risen in the developed OECD area. Read more

Japan: Hard questions and no easy solutions
For now the world waits and watches the Fukushimi Daichii reactors, their cooling mechanisms and the small crew of workers still on site struggling to stave off the worst forms of disaster. But while we wait we ponder – how far can we trust ourselves, and the systems we devise, to resist both predictable and unpredictable catastrophes?  The particular combination of earthquake, tsunami, nuclear accident and bad weather was unpredictable, but all of these items are studied in Japan’s disaster response planning. Indeed, at the request of the Japanese government, in 2009 the OECD carried out review of Japan’s risk management policies concerning large-scale floods and earthquakes. Among other recommendations, the report states that: “Industries that can trigger special harm in case of flood accidents, such as chemical and nuclear industries, should be required by law to move to safer areas”. Read more

When I'm 64.6...
The latest edition of OECD Pensions at a Glance reports that around half of OECD countries have already started, or are planning to start, raising “pensionable ages” – the age at which people qualify for a full pension. By 2050, the average in OECD countries will reach just under 65 for both sexes – that’s nearly 2½ years above the current age for men and 4 years for women.  A key reason for this move lies in the fact that we’re living longer. As a result, most of us will be living off pensions for much longer than our grandparents did. Read more

OECD Video Competition: Vote for your favorite!
Piranha II : The Spawning. Amblin. Dementia 13. It wasn’t always your Avatars, ETs and Apocalypses now for famous film directors. Everybody has to start somewhere, and who knows, maybe in years to come some of the entries in our “Progress is…” video competition will achieve the same cult status as those early offerings from Cameron, Spielberg and Coppola (whose first film was actually a porno, but this is a family blog). Anyway, if you know talent when you see it, click on the OECD 50th Anniversary Video Competition and vote for the one you think deserves to win a trip to Paris in May. Read more

A social media revolution?
So the joke goes that Mubarak dies and meets Nasser and Sadat in the afterlife. They ask him, “were you poisoned or shot?” Mubarak shrugs and answers “Facebook!”  Actually, an Egyptian family did recently name their newborn daughter Facebook. There is no doubt that we’re witnessing a world-historical moment.  The insurrectionary wave that started in Tunis in December and is still unfolding across the Maghreb and Middle East has raised important questions about the role of new media technologies and platforms in contemporary political mobilizations. Read More

Oh Joybubbles, How could you?
I’ve never seen Joe Engressias mentioned on those lists of people with disabilities who have achieved great things, but this blind boy of Virginia discovered at the age of seven how to make free phone calls and wreak havoc in the telecoms network by whistling into the mouthpiece at exactly the right frequency (2600 Hz if you want to try it at home). He later changed his name to Joybubbles, but before that he created a group of phreaks like himself, and hacking was born. There used to be lots of other ways of getting cheap phone calls. Here in Paris for instance, I can remember seeing long lines of people queuing to use certain public phones that were known to have defective timers, and some people were skilful at hitting the coin drop with a five-franc coin on a string. The OECD played a role in putting an end to all this. Read more