Science and technology: falling patent quality hits innovation, says OECD

The quality of patent filings has fallen dramatically over the past two decades. The rush to protect even minor improvements is overburdening patent offices and reduces the potential for breakthrough inventions, according to the Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2011.

Education: crisis reinforces importance of a good education, says OECD

People with university degrees have suffered far fewer job losses during the global economic crisis than those who left school without qualifications, according to the latest edition of the OECD’s annual Education at a Glance.

Governance: improving the economies of Le Havre, Rouen, Paris, and Caen and their surrounding regions

A new OECD report, The Competitiveness of Port-Cities: The Case of the Seine Axis, outlines the economies of the Seine-Axis ports of Le Havre, Rouen, Paris, and Caen, reviewing the impact of these ports on the surrounding regions and assessing their development policies and governance.

Harmonised Unemployment Rates (HURs), OECD - Updated: September 2011

The OECD area unemployment rate was steady at 8.2% in July 2011, unchanged for the fifth consecutive month.

Composite Leading Indicators (CLIs), OECD, September 2011

Composite leading indicators (CLIs) for July 2011, designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend, continue to point to a slowdown in economic activity in most OECD countries and major non-member economies. The CLI for the OECD area fell 0.5 point in July; the fourth consecutive monthly decline.

Tax: Jurisdictions move towards full tax transparency

Furthering efforts to fight against international tax evasion and bank secrecy, members of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes have issued 12 new peer review reports.

Chemicals: Argentina joins OECD agreement on mutual acceptance of chemical safety data

Argentina has joined the OECD system for the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) in the Assessment of Chemicals. Through MAD, Argentina’s non-clinical safety data related to the protection of human health and the environment must be accepted by OECD and other adhering countries.

History of the Château de la Muette, OECD headquarters, Paris

Though the present Château la Muette is modern, and was built at some distance from where the original chateau stood, the district is steeped in the history of France and her kings. A royal hunting-lodge, the birthplace of princes of France, the ...

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Consumer Prices, OECD - Updated: 6 September 2011

Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 3.1% in the year to July 2011, compared with 3.0% in the year to June.

Innovation: OECD Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy, 12-13 September 2011

Setting winning policies to foster innovation and scientific breakthroughs is tough even when governments and companies have money to spend.