Economy

Focus

• 1
  

  Do environmental policies matter for productivity growth?

  Environmental policies address wellbeing and sustainability objectives, affecting firm and household behaviour. A newly developed OECD indicator (EPS) shows that environmental policies have become more stringent over the past two decades.

• 2
  

  OECD forecasts during and after the financial crisis: a post mortem The coming 50 years will likely see a major shift of economic balance towards emerging economies, particularly those in Asia, with the share in world GDP of non-OECD countries rising well beyond that of the current OECD area by 2060.

  GDP growth was overestimated on average across 2007-12, reflecting not only errors at the height of the financial crisis but also errors in the subsequent recovery.

• 3
  

  What makes civil justice effective?

  In several OECD countries lengthy civil proceedings can be a drag on economic activity. In the OECD area the average length is around 240 days in first instance, but in some countries a trial may require almost twice as many days to be resolved.

• 4
  

  Less income inequality and more growth - Are they compatible?

  Can both less income inequality and more growth be achieved? A recent OECD study sheds new light on the link between policies that boost growth and the distribution of income.

• 5
  

  Choosing fiscal consolidation instruments compatible with growth and equity

  As the effects of the crisis eventually subsides, the coming 50 years will likely see a major shift of economic balance towards emerging economies, particularly those in Asia, with the share in world GDP of non-OECD countries rising well beyond that of the current OECD area by 2060.