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Towards better schools and more equal opportunities for learning in Italy

16-Oct-2009

Compulsory school education in Italy produces poor results in terms of 15 year olds’ performance on PISA tests, compared with other OECD countries, despite a relatively high level of expenditure.

Iceland: The financial and economic crisis

16-Oct-2009

The global financial and economic crisis has struck Iceland with extreme force. Iceland’s three main banks, accounting for almost all of the banking system, failed in October 2008. They were unable to resist the deterioration in global financial markets following the failure of Lehman Brothers.

Iceland: Challenging times for monetary and fiscal policies

16-Oct-2009

Monetary and fiscal policies face huge challenges: the banking sector has collapsed; the economy is in the midst of a deep recession; the exchange rate has plunged; capital flows have been frozen; inflation is elevated; public debt has risen; source of revenues have disappeared; social needs have increased; and the unemployment insurance fund has been nearly depleted.

The role of transparency in the conduct of monetary policy

06-Oct-2009

In contrast to the once prevailing norm of secrecy and opaqueness, transparency has now become one of the main features characterising the conduct of monetary policy. Detailed analysis of eleven OECD central banks shows that communication practices have converged markedly in the direction of ever greater transparency.

OECD economic survey of Japan 2009

30-Sep-2009

Japan has been hard-hit by the global financial crisis. Its main economic challenges include raising its growth potential, upgrading the financial sector, resolving its fiscal problem, reforming health care and improving climate change policies.

G20: International standards on structural policies key to emerging from crisis

25-Sep-2009

Welcoming the adoption of the Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth by G20 leaders gathered in Pittsburgh for the G20 summit, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said new sources of jobs and growth needed for the global economy to effect a sustained recovery, will only emerge if the right structural policies are adopted by the world’s leading global economies.

Quickening the pace of reform will help strengthen EU economy post-crisis

21-Sep-2009

Strengthening innovation, deepening the single market and moving to a low carbon economy are among the areas where reform needs to be accelerated to strengthen long-term growth in the European Union after of the worst recession in 50 years, according to a new OECD report.

OECD welcomes experts’ call on need for new measures of social progress

14-Sep-2009

In remarks prepared for a workshop on the findings of the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress set up by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Gurría noted that the OECD is well placed to lead international cooperation on harmonising concepts and methodologies. The OECD World Forum on 27-30 October 2009 will provide the next major international opportunity to advance the Commission’s recommendations.

Recovery arriving quicker than expected but activity will remain weak, says OECD

03-Sep-2009

Recovery from the global recession is likely to arrive earlier than had been expected a few months ago but the pace of activity will remain weak well into next year, according the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Assessment. Watch the webcast of the press conference.

Economic Survey of Iceland 2009

02-Sep-2009

Iceland has entered its deepest recession in decades following the collapse of its major banks. They had pursued risky strategies, making them vulnerable in the global financial crisis. The authorities have adopted a stabilisation programme supported by an IMF Stand-By Arrangement. The crisis has highlighted the need to improve prudential supervision and the potential advantages of joining the euro area, which would enable Iceland to share the benefits of the ECB’s credibility.




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Economic Outlook n°86