Ministers pledge to finance effective development

Development ministers from OECD and emerging economies met in London 4 - 5 December for the High Level Meeting of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee(DAC).

Growth, skills and education are the keys to inclusive regional development, says OECD

Vibrant and dynamic urban centers are among the main drivers of national growth and employment, but OECD’s new report Promoting Growth in All Regions highlights that even less wealthy regions have the potential to bolster stronger, greener, and more inclusive economies.

Slovak Republic remains strong, but it needs to become more inclusive, OECD says

The Slovak Republic recovered strongly from the global economic crisis and is weathering well the storm that has struck its main European trading partners. The challenges going forward will be restoring public finances while driving down unemployment and fostering long-term inclusive growth, says the latest Economic Survey.

Guatemala, plenamente comprometida con el intercambio internacional de información fiscal

Guatemala ha firmado la Convención sobre Asistencia Administrativa Mutua en Materia Fiscal, lo que permite su exclusión de la lista de países que todavía no han implementado sustancialmente la norma fiscal internacional

Also Available

• Guatemala: commits to international exchange of tax information

Brazil: Enhancing audit reporting is key to the integrity of government accounts

Brazil’s supreme audit institution – the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) – has began a process to reform its audit of the Accounts of the President of the Republic to enhance transparency and accountability of federal budget execution.

Guatemala: commits to international exchange of tax information

Guatemala has signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters allowing it to be removed from the list of countries that have not yet substantially implemented the internationally agreed tax standard.

Also Available

• Guatemala, plenamente comprometida con el intercambio internacional de información fiscal

OECD Economic Survey of Slovak Republic launches Thursday 6 December 2012, in Bratislava

The OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Slovak Republic, to be published on Thursday 6 December 2012, discusses the country’s performance since the global economic crisis. The study assesses the Slovak Republic’s efforts to restore public finances while fostering domestic drivers of growth. It proposes reforms to improve the fiscal framework, raise labour market performance and boost education outcomes.

Luxembourg: a generous aid donor

Luxembourg allocated 0.97% of its gross national income, or USD 413 million, to official development assistance in 2011.“Luxembourg is the Development Assistance Committee’ s third most generous donor as a portion of its economy – after Sweden and Norway – and it has a high quality programme” says Brian Atwood, Chair of the DAC. “We commend Luxembourg’s commitment to keeping its ODA at 1% of GNI until 2014”.

Progress made on immigrant integration but more efforts needed on education and jobs, finds OECD

OECD countries have made much progress over the past decade in helping immigrants integrate in society. But much remains to be done, notably in improving how well immigrant children do at school and in finding work, and in immigrant women’s access to employment, according to a new OECD report.

Spain has embarked on the path to recovery, but must continue with reforms, OECD says

Spain is immersed in a prolonged recession that has been compounded by the continuing crisis in the euro area. The path to recovery has been launched, but will require full implementation of reforms and some additional measures to restore confidence in the financial sector, redress public finances and bring down high unemployment, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Spain.