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Economic surveys and country surveillance

OECD Economic Surveys are periodic reviews of member and non-member economies. Reviews of member and some non-member economies are on a two-year cycle; other selected non-member economies are also reviewed from time to time. Each Economic Survey provides a comprehensive analysis of economic developments, with chapters covering key economic challenges and policy recommendations addressing these challenges.

Germany Economic Survey 2023

After a decade of strong export-led growth, decreasing unemployment and fiscal surpluses, the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis have revealed structural vulnerabilities and emphasised the need for accelerating the green and digital transitions.

© Ugis Riba/Shutterstock.com

Germany Economic Survey 2023

Viet Nam Economic Survey 2023

Viet Nam has made remarkable economic progress over the past decades, sustaining high economic growth.

©Hien Phung Thu/Shutterstock.com

Viet Nam Economic Snapshot

Bulgaria Economic Survey 2023

Bulgaria’s convergence towards more advanced economies has continued but at a slower pace. Soaring energy and food prices have pushed up inflation to its highest levels in decades. However, support packages and strong momentum in wages and pensions have stabilised purchasing power.

© Anselmus/Shutterstock.com

Bulgaria Economic Snapshot

EDRC Bureau Members

 

 

 

Svein Gjedrem

EDRC Chairman

Irina Martìn, Switzerland

Vice-Chair

Johanna Modigsson, Sweden

Vice-Chair

 Hélène Durocher, Canada

 Bureau member

 

Miguel Obando, Colombia

Bureau member

   ‌  

Henrik Thomasen, Denmark

Bureau member

Cécile Mahé, France

 Bureau member

 

 Simon Mcloughlin, New Zealand 

 Bureau member

Marte Sollie, Norway

Bureau member

 

Economics Department: Country Studies Branch

Álvaro Pereira

Director

Isabell Koske

Deputy Director

Vincent Koen

Head of Division

FinlandIcelandIrelandJapanKoreaNew ZealandNorwaySweden, Egypt

Sebastian Barnes

Jens Arnold

Head of Division

Argentina, BrazilFranceHungary
LithuaniaPortugalSouth Africa, South East Asia

Aida Caldera Sánchez

Head of Division

ChileColombiaCosta RicaMexico
Netherlands, Peru, SpainUnited Kingdom

Mame Fatou Diagne

Isabelle Joumard

Head of Division

AustriaBelgiumCanada, Croatia, Greece
IndiaIndonesiaRomaniaTunisiaTürkiye

About Economic Surveys and the Economic and Development Review Committee (EDRC)

The Economic and Development Review Committee (EDRC) is at the core of the OECD’s peer review mechanism. This Committee is made up of representatives of all 38 OECD member country governments and the European Union. It examines economic trends and policies in individual OECD and selected other economies, as well as in the European Union at large, assessing performance and making policy recommendations. In so doing, it builds on the experience and lessons learnt across countries, with a view to promote good practices.

Each economy is reviewed about every two years. The results are published in the form of an Economic Survey, aimed at promoting a better understanding of the economic situation and key challenges facing the authorities, and pointing towards ways of improving overall economic performance.

The Surveys have evolved since the EDRC’s creation in 1961, when they were mostly focused on macroeconomic developments and policies. Now there is a heavy emphasis on structural policies and their interaction with macroeconomic policies. The workings of labour, product and financial markets are regularly examined, together with the role of the public sector. So are policies to address inequalities, including gender inequality, as well as environmental challenges, and particularly climate change.

The Surveys generally include a detailed analysis of a specific structural topic. Recent topics have included climate change, digitalisation, education, innovation, fiscal federalism, housing, health, migration and competition, based inter alia on cross-country analysis carried out in the Policy Studies Branch of the Economics Department and in the OECD’s specialised Directorates.

The Surveys are discussed by the EDRC with participation by member countries’ and the European Union’s permanent delegates to the OECD. The national delegates are sometimes assisted by experts from their governments. The country under examination is generally represented by a delegation of high-level government officials. To make the process manageable and efficient, the Committee designates two of its members as lead examiners for each review.

A draft Survey prepared by the Secretariat serves as the basis for the examination. After the plenary EDRC meeting, the Secretariat revises the draft Survey in consultation with the country under review, to take into account the comments and recommendations made by the Committee. The Committee then approves a final version for publication under its own responsibility. A key feature of this process is that all Committee members agree on the final report. It is not solely the responsibility of the Secretariat, although obviously its judgements are an important input, nor does it simply accommodate the views of the country under review. Through this interactive process, a large degree of consensus is reached on the analysis and recommendations, and the Survey becomes a commonly owned product.

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