The COVID-19 pandemic has brought worldwide social and economic disruption, but also provides governments with the opportunity of a fundamental reset and putting economies on a more sustainable and inclusive growth path, according to the OECD’s report, Going for Growth 2021: Shaping a Vibrant Recovery.

Foreign aid for development from official donors rose to an all-time high of USD 161.2 billion in 2020, up 3.5% in real terms from 2019, boosted by efforts to help developing countries address COVID-19. Still, this total came to only 1% of the amount countries have mobilised in stimulus measures for their own economies, preliminary data show.

One way of gauging the effect of COVID-19 on employment is to examine online advertising for job postings. A survey of five countries shows the rise in the requirement of working from home, and points to strong demand for technical skills in the health sector, and for communications and team work skills.

President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan approved by the US Congress in March provides US$1.84 trillion (8.4% of GDP) of fiscal support to the economy, a large stimulus by international standards. The transformative nature of the package should not be overlooked. Blog by Patrick Lenain, Carl Romer and Ben Westmore.

Creating an emergency Rapid Response Forum to ensure global supplies of essential goods continue to flow during major crises is one of the recommendations contained in a new OECD report to the G7. Fostering Economic Resilience in a World of Open and Integrated Markets focuses on three policy areas where international co-operation is critical.

COVID-19 has disrupted two decades of rising living standards in Indonesia, triggering the first recession in a generation. The OECD Economic Survey of Indonesia says support to households and firms should continue, and points to skills, competition and state-owned enterprises as areas for improvement to secure a green and inclusive recovery.

OECD Podcast: International Women's Day on 8 March is important this year as COVID-19 threatens decades of progress towards gender equality. In this tale of two cities, Mayor Lisa Helps of Victoria in Canada and Diana Rodriguez Franco, Secretary of Women's Issues in Bogotá, Colombia, explain how women in leadership can make a difference.