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Over the past two decades, most Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have experienced robust economic growth and been able to make significant reductions in poverty and income inequality. However, growth in the region was not strong enough to ensure convergence towards levels of per capita income observed in advanced OECD economies. An important part of this underperformance can be explained by weak productivity growth. Should this weakness persist, it will be very difficult for LAC countries to achieve better lives for the majority of families. The present publication portrays the situation of LAC countries and discusses best-practice policies. Participation in global value chains is encouraged to enable knowledge spillovers and a process of learning by doing. More regional trade integration would help this process, as Latin America ranks very low and remains a sizeable outlier. The diffusion of knowledge and technology would be facilitated by making it easier to do business, notably allowing new entrants that are facing high barriers to operate and grow. Improved access to education is important to meet the demand for skills, and to boost innovation and research and development, which is particularly true in a context of fast technological change.

This first OECD Investment Policy Review of Cambodia uses the OECD Policy Framework for Investment to present an assessment of the investment climate in Cambodia and to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the Royal Government of Cambodia in its reform efforts. It includes chapters on investment trends and industrial structure, competitiveness and diversification, improving business regulation, investor protection, investment promotion, good regulatory practices, infrastructure, the investment framework for green growth, corporate governance, competition policy and how ODA is being used to improve the investment climate.

Les lois et réglementations régissent la vie quotidienne des entreprises et des particuliers, et sont des outils importants de la politique de la réglementation. « Légiférer » n’a jamais été une tâche facile, mais la rapidité des transformations technologiques et l’interconnection croissante des économies la rendent plus ardue encore. Les perspectives de l’OCDE sur la politique de la réglementation 2018, les secondes de la série, identifient les efforts des pays pour améliorer leurs lois et régulations, conformément à la Recommandation de 2012 concernant la politique et la gouvernance réglementaires, et partagent les bonnes pratiques. Cette publication apporte un éclairage unique sur l’organisation et les dispositifs institutionnels dont les pays se sont dotés pour concevoir, faire respecter et faire évoluer leur réglementation. Elle lève aussi le voile sur les aspects du cycle réglementaire qui mériteraient plus d’attention de la part des décideurs publics. Enfin, elle identifie les domaines dans lesquels les pays peuvent concentrer leurs efforts pour améliorer la qualité des lois et des réglementations et les approches innovantes susceptibles de leur faciliter la tâche.

International regulatory co-operation (IRC) represents an important opportunity for countries, and in particular domestic regulators, to consider the impacts of their regulations beyond their borders, expand the evidence for decision-making, learn from the experience of their peers, and develop concerted approaches to challenges that transcend borders. This report provides the first OECD assessment of a country’s IRC framework and practices. Mexico’s active efforts to embrace globalisation are reflected in many aspects of its domestic policies, practices and institutions. On one hand, it has undertaken unilateral efforts to embed international considerations in its domestic rule-making through regulatory improvement disciplines and with the consideration of international standards in the drafting of technical regulations. On the other hand, the Mexican government and individual regulators also engage extensively in co-operative efforts on regulatory matters, at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level. Based on the overview of Mexico’s practices and comparison with other OECD countries, the review recommends three areas for improvement: designing a horizontal government-wide strategy for IRC, enhancing information about the tools and benefits of IRC, and offering the necessary tools to support systematic implementation of IRC.

Increasing productivity, enhancing social inclusion and strengthening institutions are top priorities for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and constitute therefore the three pillars of the OECD LAC Regional Programme. Good public governance and a strong culture of integrity are indispensable to achieve these three objectives. The most recent corruption cases and the growing discontent of citizens are an opportunity for policy makers to promote a culture of integrity and implement national integrity and anti-corruption strategies.This report builds on the recent Lima Commitment, which was dedicated to 'Democratic Governance against Corruption' and signed by 34 countries at the Summit of the Americas held in Lima in 2018. It provides strategic guidance to policy makers to bring political commitments into concrete actions that deliver results at the height of the expectations of their citizens.