Portugal: Reforming the State to promote growth

After two decades of strong economic growth and convergence in living standards towards the levels of more prosperous OECD countries, Portugal’s performance weakened in the 2000s, productivity growth slowed and competitiveness deteriorated. Restoring Portugal’s potential for strong, inclusive growth calls for a comprehensive reform of the State.

Speech delivered to the OECD Council by the Prime Minister of Portugal, HE. Pedro Passos Coelho

Today the OECD is publishing a report on Portugal's challenges as far as structural reform is concerned. The OECD is an outstanding reference for policy-makers all around the world and I wanted my country to benefit from your skills, experience, and insights, especially on the question of structural reform, said the Portuguese Prime Minister.

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Composite Leading Indicators (CLIs), OECD, May 2013

Composite leading indicators (CLIs), designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend, continue to show improvement relative to late 2012 in most major economies.

Economic Survey of Belgium 2013

After the crisis, Belgium needs to reduce public debt and secure fiscal sustainability via reforms to increase the internationally low effective retirement age, boost cost-efficiency in healthcare, and better utilise transport infrastructures.

Italia: mantenere la barra diritta e puntare sul futuro

L'Italia ha compiuto notevoli progressi rafforzando le finanze pubbliche e adottando una vasta serie di riforme destinate ad incoraggiare la crescita economica. Il nuovo Governo deve garantire il rafforzamento di tali progressi e il perseguimento della medesima strada, secondo Angel Gurría.

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Italy: Stay on Course and Focus on the Future

Italy took courageous decisions and engaged reforms to address the crisis and create the necessary conditions to ensure economic recovery. The economic situation remains fragile but you are making visible progress and it is crucial to maintain the reform momentum, said OECd Secretary-General.

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Italy: New government must build on recent reforms

Italy has made considerable progress in strengthening its public finances and adopting wide-ranging reforms to boost economic growth. The new government must build on past achievements and ensure that they are sustained and reinforced, says a new OECD report.

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Homo Economicus: an uncertain guide

As humans, we face a constant internal conflict between immediate gratification and more prudent living. This conflict is also apparent in society. How can we ensure that the homo economicus within us takes the decisions that best affect our lives, and economies?

Consumer Prices, OECD - Updated: 30 April 2013

Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 1.6% in the year to March 2013, compared with 1.8% in the year to February 2013. This slowdown in the annual rate of inflation mainly reflects slower growth in food and especially in energy prices.

Return from the dead?

Old ways of thinking won’t bring developed countries back to economic life. Weighed down by the legacy of the crisis, they also face deep challenges like a faltering labour supply and slowing innovation. And growth itself won’t be enough–it must also be stable, inclusive and green. The need for structural reforms has never been greater, but they will require difficult trade-offs.