TRADE PARTNERS' EDITION, 1 JULY 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

Higher agriculture prices here to stay, says OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary Now expanded to cover fisheries, as well. Always does well.

Wireless broadband subscriptions in OECD countries had exceeded half a billion by the end of 2010, according to the OECD Communications Outlook 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary Another Outlook that has a wide audience.

Fiscal consolidation should lead to more efficient government, says Government at a Glance 2011: Press release | Video clip | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary In these time of bulging government deficits, this book provides interesting insights into which countries are doing well and which are not. The first edition did extraordinarily well, and we expect this one to do even better with it's expanded range of indicators.

OECD PUBLISHING NEWS

Downloads from the OECD iLibrary during its first year are five times higher than what they were on SourceOECD at over 2.5 million, and take up of the new ready-made Key Tables has been impressive at going on 200,000 downloads. If your library clients have not yet checked their library's COUNTER reports, refer them to the Instructions and the FAQs

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
• Frankfurt Book Fair, 12-16 October 2011, Frankfurt, Germany
  
• Österreichischer Bibliothekartag, 18-21 October, Innsbruck, Austria
  

AGRICULTURE/FOOD/FISHERIES

Higher agriculture prices here to stay, says OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Change in farm policy and practice needed for greener growth, says A Green Growth Strategy for Food and Agriculture: Report (PDF - 1.17 mb)

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

BUSINESS & MARKETS

Competitiveness and Private Sector Development: Central Asia 2011: Competitiveness Outlook: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

African Central Government Debt 2011: Statistical Yearbook: Book on Online Bookshop (PDF only, book to come soon) | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Journal: Competition Law and Policy, Volume 11, Issue 2 includes articles on private remedies, plea bargaining in cartel cases and competition law and policy in the Ukrraine: Subscribe to the OECD Journal | View issue on OECD iLibrary

OECD Journal: General Papers, Volume 2010 Issue 2. This issue focuses on the Central European Free Trade Agreement and investment. Subscribe to the OECD Journal | View issue on OECD iLibrary

Environmental Concerns in International Investment Agreements: Working paper

DEVELOPMENT

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

Iceland is slowly recovering from the deep recession caused by its banking crisis but further action is need to strengthen monetary policy and boost employment, says OECD Economic Surveys: Iceland 2011: Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Directory of Bodies of the OECD 2011 is your guide to country participation in various OECD committees and working groups: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2011 Issue 1: Print edition now available! Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Global shocks to become more frequent, says Future Global Shocks: Improving Risk Governance: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop Final book not yet available but to come shortly. There will also be several accompanying reports on various specific risks coming, and they will all be bundled into a package.

OECD Economics Department Working Papers:
-No. 875: The Effects of Downturns on Labour Force Participation
-No. 876: Estonia:  Making the Most of Globalisation

Forthcoming
-OECD Economic Surveys: Belgium 2011: Book listing

ECONOMIC STATISTICS

Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2011 tells why entrepreneurs thrive more in some countries than others: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary Interesting new At-a-Glance that should do well.

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

EDUCATION

Korea tops in digital literacy says PISA 2009 Results: Students On Line: Digital Technologies and Performance (Volume VI): Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary We have created a set of all six volumes under which you can sell the whole set at a big discount.

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: Book listing
-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

Health spending continues to outpace economic growth in most OECD countries, says OECD Health Data 2011. Press release | Subscribe to Database | Database on OECD iLibrary Please note that OECD Health Data is now being integrated with other OECD statistics on OECD.Stat. It is no longer being made available with the IRDES software. There will no longer be a single-user CD-ROM.

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

ENERGY

IEA makes 60 million barrels of oil available to market to offset Libyan disruption: Press release | FAQs

Medium-Term Oil and Gas Markets 2011 looks at oil, gas market prospects through 2016: Press release | Book on Online Bookshop

Integration of Renewables: Status and Challenges in China: Working paper

Gas Emergency Policy: Where do IEA Countries Stand? Working paper

Forthcoming
-Medium-Term Oil and Gas Markets 2011
-OECD Green Growth Studies: Energy
-Energy Policies of Hungary - 2011 Review (15 July 2011)
-Energy Statistics of OECD Countries 2011 (July 2011)
-Energy Balances of OECD Countries 2011 (July 2011)
-Oil Information 2011 (August 2011)
-Electricity Information 2011 (August 2011)
-Renewables Information 2011 (August 2011)
-Natural Gas Information 2011 (August 2011)
-Coal Information 2011 (August 2011)
-Energy Statistics of Non-OECD Countries 2011 (August 2011)
-Energy Balances of Non-OECD Countries 2011 (August 2011)

ENVIRONMENT

Change in farm policy and practice needed for greener growth, says A Green Growth Strategy for Food and Agriculture: Report (PDF - 1.17 mb)

Green Growth for an Inclusive World Economy. Remarks by Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General, delivered at the Global Green Growth Summit: Remarks

Taxation, Innovation and the Environment: Policy brief (PDF - 1.19 mb)

Policy Interventions to Address Health Impacts Associated with Air Pollution, Unsafe Water Supply and Sanitation, and Hazardous Chemicals: Working paper

OECD invites comments on the Draft Recommendation for Assessing the Sustainability of Bio-based Products: Announcement

Environmental Concerns in International Investment Agreements: Working paper

Environmental Enforcement in Decentralised Governance Systems: Working paper

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

HEALTH

Health spending continues to outpace economic growth in most OECD countries, says OECD Health Data 2011. Press release | Subscribe to Database | Database on OECD iLibrary Please note that OECD Health Data is now being integrated with other OECD statistics on OECD.Stat. It is no longer being made available with the IRDES software. There will no longer be a single-user CD-ROM.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Wireless broadband subscriptions in OECD countries had exceeded half a billion by the end of 2010, according to the OECD Communications Outlook 2011: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop (Print version to be available soon!) | Book on OECD iLibrary

Next Generation Access Networks and Market Structure: Working paper

Virtual Worlds: Immersive Online Platforms for Collaboration, Creativity and Learning: Working paper

Fibre Access: Network Developments in the OECD Area: Working paper

National Broadband Plans: Working paper

NUCLEAR ENERGY

New policy recommendations on the security of supply of medical radioisotopes: Article | Report (PDF - 1.27 mb)

Nuclear Energy in Perspective: The Path to a Reliable Supply of Medical Radioisotopes: Report (PDF - 5.9 mb)

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Fiscal consolidation should lead to more efficient government, says Government at a Glance 2011: Press release | Video clip | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Forthcoming:
-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

OECD Studies on Tourism: Italy: Review of Issues and Policies: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

Forthcoming
-The Space Economy at a Glance 2011: Book listing

SMEs & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2011 tells why entrepreneurs thrive more in some countries than others: Press release | Book announcement | Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD Studies on Tourism: Italy: Review of Issues and Policies: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

TAXATION

Implementing the Tax Transparency Standards: A Handbook for Assessors and Jurisdictions, Second Edition: Book on Online Bookshop | Book on OECD iLibrary

OECD calls for increased international tax co-operation: Press release

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

TRADE

OECD Journal: General Papers, Volume 2010 Issue 2. This issue focuses on the Central European Free Trade Agreement and investment. Subscribe to the OECD Journal | View issue on OECD iLibrary

Intra-Firm Trade:  Patterns, Determinants and Policy Implications: Working paper

Trade in Information and Communications Technology and its Contribution to Trade and Innovation: Working paper

Estimating the Constraints to Trade of Developing Countries: Working paper

TRANSPORTATION

Car Fleet Renewal Schemes: Environmental and Safety Impacts: Report (PDF - 2,84 mb)

EU Transport Legislation Update: Report - PDF 677 kb)

FROM THE OECD INSIGHTS BLOG

Peacebuilding and statebuilding come before the Millennium Development Goals
Imagine you can’t take your child to the doctor because the clinic is on the other side of a bridge it’s too dangerous to cross. Imagine you’re trying to get an education but you can’t read after sunset because there’s no light. Imagine the only people who’ll protect you from an armed gang are the members of another armed gang. Imagine you’re a government trying to deal with problems like these after a civil war or invasion that’s lasted for years and destroyed your country and you’ll easily understand why no fragile state has achieved a single Millennium Development Goal, or is likely to do so by the 2015 target date, even though these states receive over 30% of development assistance.If the MDGs set the bar impossibly high, what should fragile states aim for? Read more

Lessons in resilience from PISA
It won’t be news to anyone at this stage that – on average – students from poorer families don’t do as well in school as kids from middle class families. As the OECD’s PISA education research has shown, social background is consistently one of the major factors that determines average student performance. But it’s important to emphasise the word “average”. In just about every place that takes part in PISA, a proportion of kids from poorer families buck the trend – they do much better in school than might be predicted based on their family circumstances. Such kids even have a name – “resilient students”. Across OECD countries, about three out of ten kids from poorer families are resilient, according to results from the latest round of PISA. The research offers some insights into the factors that can help to encourage resilience. Read more

Immediate action and long-term approaches for food security and food price volatility
The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook to 2020 published this week expects commodity prices for cereals to be 20% higher over the coming decade compared with the 2000s, and meat 30% higher. That’s good news for famers the world over, but for the one in seven of the world’s population who goes to bed hungry, it could spell disaster. Moreover, price volatility could make matters worse. So what should we do? Read more

Reading, the second digital divide
While the quality of online education is a subject of intense debate among educators, parents and students alike, what is no longer open to debate is the need for digital literacy. A recent report in The Guardian affirmed that adults with Internet skills are 25% more likely to get work and to earn as much as 10% more than their colleagues who don’t have such skills. Are our children well-prepared to enter this technology-rich world? Not as well as you might expect a crop of “digital natives” to be. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) finds that nearly 17% of 15-year-olds who have grown up “wired” do not have the skills to move easily through the digital environment. Read more

Is there a way to really help manage online privacy?
How can business and policy makers address data protection and privacy issues as innovation spurs the creation every week of new Internet technologies and business models? It’s not as if the policy and technology communities are sitting on their hands.  Major organizations such as the World Economic Forum have published studies bringing attention to the issue, for example examining privacy and cloud computing. The work underway to revamp the European Data Protection Directive is a significant effort.  Likewise, government initiatives, such as the U.S. National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, prominently include data privacy as a core component.  And in the technical community, we see initiatives designed to enhance privacy and trust in federated identity systems such as those sponsored by the Kantara Initiative and the Open Identity Exchange.  Unfortunately, while valuable, ad hoc initiatives represent an incomplete path for actually delivering Internet-scale online privacy and trust. It would be naïve to argue that there is a simple, elegant solution to these problems.  But there is a path forward, which is the greater use of the expertise and resources of standards development organizations that are addressing privacy risk management issues from a framework-level perspective. Read more