Featuring links to important new information on OECD web sites.
December 2004
Other Resources

News Releases | Upcoming Events | Priority Activities |
Policy Briefs | OECD Observer | Annual Report

Statistics
Composite Leading Indicator | Consumer Prices | External Debt | GDP | IEA Oil Market Report | Non-member Country Data | Unemployment Rate

Country Notes
Czech Republic | Denmark | Finland | Germany | Italy | Luxembourg | Mexico | Norway | Portugal | Russia | Russia | Sweden

Opinions
Alive, alive Doha!

Topics Highlights | Agriculture/Food/Fisheries | Development | Economic Developments | Economic Statistics | Education | Employment | Energy | Enterprise/Industry/Svcs | Environment | Finance/Investment | Health | Information/Communications Technologies | Public Management | Science/Innovation | Taxation | Trade | Transportation | Urban, Rural, and Regional Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

December 2004 OECD Economic Outlook says Oil Price Hike is Slowing Growth, but that the Setback is Temporary. More. Also see related OECD Observer article

Top-Performer Finland Improves Further in New PISA Educational Achievement Survey as Gap Between Countries Widens. More

New WTO rules for textiles and clothing will come into effect at the end of 2004. How will governments and the industry adapt to this drastically altered trading environment? See A New World Map in Textiles and Clothing. Also see related OECD Observer article.

OECD Information Technology Outlook 2004 Released More

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AGRICULTURE/FOOD/FISHERIES

Alive, Alive Doha: OECD Observer letter to the editor

OECD List of Seed Varieties Eligible for Certification, 2004-2005: More

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DEVELOPMENT

Statistical Annex of the OECD Development Co-operation Report, 2004: Excel Tables (Full DAC Report for 2004 to come out early in 2005)

OECD Commends Norway’s High Aid Levels, Focus on Fighting Poverty. More

The MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Investment for Development More

DAC Partnership Forum on Improving Donor Effectiveness in Combatting Corruption: More

Funding the Global Fight against Poverty: OECD Observer article

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

December 2004 OECD Economic Outlook says Oil Price Hike is Slowing Growth, but that the Setback is Temporary. More. Also see related OECD Observer article

The following OECD Economic Surveys have been released. Policy Briefs summarizing the findings of Surveys are available.

OECD Economics Department Working Papers Released during the Past Month:
  • No. 410. Banking Reforn in Russia: Problems and Prospects (272 kb)
  • No. 411. Wealth Effects on Money Demand in EMU: Econometric Evidence (146 kb)

OECD Committees and Groups Database: Web Version of the OECD List of Bodies. Lists all committees, working groups, etc. and describes their membership and mandates.

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ECONOMIC STATISTICS

OECD Statistics Newsletter, December 2004 features articles on Statistical Survey of Web Content as an Indicator of Internet Development in Japan; First Results from the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Services Survey; Main Economic Indicators - Financial Statistics; Building OECD's New Statistical Information System; Access on Line Development:Free of Charge Dissemination by Eurostat; ISI Meeting 2005. More (3 mb)

Luxembourg had the highest GDP per head in 2003, at over $50,000. See the OECDObserver article

Latest OECD Consumer Prices: More

Latest OECD Composite Leading Indicators: More

Latest Standardised Unemployment Rates: More

Main Economic Indicators for Non-Member Countries: More (175 kb)

Quarterly Growth Rates of GDP at Constant Prices: Excel file

Joint BIS-IMF-OECD-WB Statistics on External Debt: 30 November 2004 Update

IEA Monthly Oil Market Report More

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EDUCATION

Top-Performer Finland Improves Further in New PISA 2003 Educational Achievement Survey as Gap Between Countries Widens. More

Early Childhood Education and Care Policy: Germany: Country Note (430 kb)

Messages from PISA 2000: The final summary report from the PISA 2000 survey:
Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

Denmark: Lessons from PISA 2000: Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

Co-Financing Lifelong Learning: Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

Career Guidance: A Handbook for Policy Makers: Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

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EMPLOYMENT

New Edition of Benefits and Wages released: More

Migration for Employment: Bilateral Agreements at a Crossroads: More Book on SourceOECD

Average and Marginal Effective Tax Rates Facing Workers in the EU: Working Paper (614 kb)

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ENERGY

Energy Policies of IEA Countries – 2004 Review Special Edition Review of the last 30 years – Cross-Country-Overview: Press Release Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

IEA Monthly Oil Market Report OMR Web Page

IEA Statistics Web Page Energy Statistics Web Page

Monthly Oil, Gas, Electricity and Energy Prices Reports Monthly Energy Reports

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ENTERPRISE/INDUSTRY/SERVICES

OECD Urges Russia to Boost Inward Investment by Easing Foreign Ownership Rules.
Press Release Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

Report on the Application of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention in Italy, Phase 2: More (340 kb)

Corporate Goverance in Asia: A Comparative Overview. More (695 kb)

STAN Database Updated: More

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ENVIRONMENT

OECD Review of Sweden's Environmental Performance:
OECD Observer article Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

New Studies Released for COP-10 in Buenos Aires: More

Economic Aspects of Environmental Compliace Assurance: Conference Papers

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FINANCE/INVESTMENT

OECD Urges Russia to Boost Inward Investment by Easing Foreign Ownership Rules.
More Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

OECD Urges Better Claim Handling by Insurance Companies. More

Conclusions of the OECD Conference on Catastrophic Risks and Insurance. More (22 kb)

New Edition of International Direct Investment Statistics Yearbook published:
Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD Database on SourceOECD (previously published)

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HEALTH

Selecting Indicators for the Quality of Patient Safety at the Health Systems Level in OECD Countries: Health Technical Paper (237 kb)

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INFORMATION/COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

OECD Information Technology Outlook 2004 Released More

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PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

The MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Investment for Development More

OECD/UNDP Arab Good Governance Programme: More

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SCIENCE/INNOVATION

OECD Science, Technology, and Industry Outlook to come out in January: More

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TAXATION

Fair Tax Competition: A Pillar of Postive Economic Reform: Power Point Presentation given by Jeffrey Owens at the International Conference for Economic Reforms in Europe.

Attribution of Profits to a Permanent Establishment: Revised Timetable for Completion. More

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TRADE

New WTO rules for textiles and clothing will come into effect at the end of 2004. How will governments and the industry adapt to this drastically altered trading environment? See A New World map in Textiles and Clothing. Also see related OECD Observer article.

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TRANSPORTATION

Just Published: National Policies to Promote Cycling: Purchase Book Book on SourceOECD

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URBAN, RURAL, AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS

Territorial Review of Mexico City: Full Report