Building a resilient recovery

As countries emerge from the shadows of the COVID-19 crisis, governments are focusing on reshaping the labour market – in particular support for green and digital skills, help for the vulnerable and initiatives to bolster the creation of quality new jobs.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rethink and rebuild labour markets to allow them to be more resilient, more inclusive and more productive.

The OECD’s latest report, Government at a Glance 2021, urges governments to focus on three areas to improve crisis preparedness in the future: tackle misinformation, enhance representation and bolster governance.

Good governance means stronger recoveries underpinned by trust and transparency. It is the best chance for governments to deliver on their priorities: restoring economic activity, protecting those most in need, building a green economy, and more.

Increased meat production is highly correlated with declines in poverty: the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increase from meat production in Africa, Asia and Latin America combined is expected to have increased 31% from 1 817 to 2 381 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂-equivalent between 2000 and 2030, even as per-capita in Europe and North America are among the highest in the world.

How will eating habits change in the years ahead? And what will be the impact on GHG emissions – and on the agricultural sector more broadly?

Technology emerged triumphant during the COVID-19 pandemic. An acceleration in digital learning, digital working and digital shopping has demonstrated its resilience – and has also highlighted the challenges of access, use and trust.

Access to high-speed internet is vital to sustain this shift to digital activity, but different broadband penetration rates suggest a risk of an urban-rural digital divide.

Use of digital platforms to make online purchases allows businesses to continue to sell and consumers to continue to buy, but the data reveal a divide in online activity between the poorest and the richest quartiles.

Trust in online platforms is important for the long-term health of the digital ecosystem, but different attitudes to payment security concerns underpin the divide between different age groups.

How should governments respond?