Latest Documents

Focus on Inequality and Growth

Widespread increases in income inequality have raised concerns about their potential impact on our societies and economies. New OECD research shows that when income inequality rises, economic growth falls. One reason is that poorer members of society are less able to invest in their education. Tackling inequality can make our societies fairer and our economies stronger.

Social Expenditure Database (SOCX)

SOCX presents information on trends and composition of social expenditure across the OECD from 1980 to 2011 and estimates for 2012-2014 as well as estimates of net total social spending.

Society at a Glance: Asia/Pacific 2014

Tax and Benefit Systems: OECD Indicators

The project "Benefits and Wages" addresses the complicated interactions of tax and benefit systems for different family types and labour market situations and their impact on household incomes and financial work incentives.

Changes in Family Policies and Outcomes: Is there Convergence? (OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers No. 157)

This paper presents new information on trends in family and child outcomes and policies over the past decades, in order to assess whether there has been any convergence over time across OECD and EU countries. Important drivers of population structure such as life expectancy and fertility rates are becoming more similar across countries as are marriage and divorce rates.

Trends in Top Incomes and their Taxation in OECD Countries (OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers No. 159)

The shares of top income recipients in total pre-tax income have increased in OECD countries in the past three decades, particularly in most of the English-speaking countries but also in some Nordic (from low levels) and Southern European countries. Today, the richest one percent receives between 7% of all pre-tax income in Denmark and the Netherlands up to almost 20% in the United States.

Top earners capturing growing share of total income in many countries, says OECD

The shares of the richest 1% in total pre-tax income have increased in most OECD countries over the past three decades. This rise is the result of the top 1% capturing a disproportionate share of overall income growth over that timeframe: up to 37% in Canada and 47% in the United States, according to new OECD analysis.

Urgent action needed to tackle rising inequality and social divisions, says OECD

Income inequality and social divisions could worsen and become entrenched unless governments act quickly to boost support for the most vulnerable in society, according to a new OECD report.

Society at a Glance 2014

This edition of Society at a Glance addresses the growing demand for quantitative evidence on social well-being and its trends with a special chapter on the social consequences of the global crisis.

Benefits and Wages: Country specific information

Replacement rates (gross and net), country specific files, models and calculator provide detailed descriptions of all cash benefits available to those in and out of work as well as the taxes they were liable&