This paper reviews alleged societal benefits and costs of International Investment Agreements (IIAs) as suggested by academia, governments, business and civil society. It sets out the wide range of issues that diverse actors have proposed in the context of assessing the societal benefits and costs of IIAs.

29/03/2018 - The OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct is seeking candidates for a new Chairs to assist in implementing and promoting the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

The OECD Due Diligence Guidance is being used as the basis and benchmark by many industry initiatives created to ensure the responsible sourcing of minerals. This report presents the findings of a pilot alignment assessment of five industry programmes against the recommendations of the OECD Guidance to gauge the coherence, effectiveness and credibility of these initiatives.

Housing Index in Indonesia increased to 210.97 points in the fourth quarter of 2019 from 210.33 points in the third quarter of 2019. Housing Index in Indonesia averaged 150.79 points from 2002 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 210.97 points in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a record low of 100 points in the first quarter of 2002. In Indonesia, housing index refers to the Residential Property Price Index that measures house prices in 16 cities, including small, medium and large houses. This page provides - Indonesia Housing Index- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Housing Index in Portugal increased to 144.10 points in the fourth quarter of 2019 from 143.12 points in the third quarter of 2019. Housing Index in Portugal averaged 107.98 points from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 144.10 points in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a record low of 92.25 points in the second quarter of 2013. In Portugal, Housing Index measures the evolution of housing prices in the residential market. This page provides - Portugal House Price Index - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Housing Index in Japan decreased to 111.71 points in December from 113.28 points in November of 2019. Housing Index in Japan averaged 104.46 points from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 116.44 points in January of 2019 and a record low of 97.26 points in October of 2009. In Japan, Housing Index refers to Residential Property Price Index, including prices of land, detached houses and condominiums. This page provides - Japan Construction Starts - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Housing Index in Turkey increased to 123.70 points in February from 120.90 points in January of 2020. Housing Index in Turkey averaged 77.80 points from 2010 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 123.70 points in February of 2020 and a record low of 45.40 points in January of 2010. In Turkey, the Housing Index is measured by the residential property price index. This page provides the latest reported value for - Turkey House Price Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Housing Index in Switzerland decreased to 168.74 points in the first quarter of 2020 from 169.34 points in the fourth quarter of 2019. Housing Index in Switzerland averaged 105.83 points from 1970 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 169.34 points in the fourth quarter of 2019 and a record low of 35.65 points in the first quarter of 1970. In Switzerland, housing index refers to Residential House Price Index of single-family homes. This page provides - Switzerland House Price Index - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

OECD 50th Anniversary Conference, Paris, 22 June 2011.

"It is estimated that air pollution from diesel-fuelled road transport kills 10 times more people each year in France than those who die in road accidents": OECD Insights Blog's post by Simon Upton, head of the OECD Environment Directorate, founder and Chair of the Round Table on Sustainable Development, and former New Zealand environment minister.

This document outlines the methodologies and tools currently used to assess the risk of chemicals to children’s health and also identifies possible needs for additional guidance or tools based on the results of an on-line survey conducted in November 2011. The following areas of risk assessment are covered: definitions, hazard and exposure assessment, risk characterisation, cohort studies and combined exposure to multiple chemicals.

An elderly man with cardiovascular disease tests his own blood pressure, and sends the results to an online application that his doctor can access. Another patient with depression living in a rural area far from health services tells a psychiatrist how he is feeling via a video connection. All of this occurs without the patients leaving their homes.

This country note provides information on latest trends in income inequalities as well as key findings from the 2011 OECD report "Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising".

Australia delivered USD 5.44 billion in official development assistance (ODA) last year, or 0.36% of its gross national income. It is the eighth most generous country in the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which groups the world’s major donors. Australia’s goal is to reach 0.5% of GNI by 2017 – a goal the DAC encourages it to follow through on, given its good track record and relatively strong economy.

Each G20 presidency faces its own challenges. A presidency must respond to global economic conditions, it must build on previous work, and it must seize opportunities to progress with reforms where members can reach consensus.

Australia should provide early access to more intensive employment services for disadvantaged laid-off workers to help them find a new job more quickly, according to a new OECD report.

The OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Australia, to be published at 00.01 am on Friday, 3 March 2017 AEDT (13.01, GMT; 14:01 Paris time Thursday), looks at Australia’s current macroeconomic situation, as well as the steps that can be taken to ensure stronger and more inclusive growth in the future. The Survey’s two in-depth chapters focus on innovation.

Australia’s active global engagement on development and its focus on fragile small island states and disaster risk reduction are commendable. However successive cuts to the country’s aid budget since 2013 are impairing its efforts, according to the latest DAC Peer Review of Australia.

Resistance proportions for eight antibiotic-bacterium pairs in Australia have increased in recent years, from 7% in 2005 to 10% in 2015, and could go up to 12% by 2030, should current trends in antibiotic consumption, population and economic growth continue into the future. Resistance proportions in Australia were lower than the OECD average in 2015 (17%).

This country fact-sheet presents key figures from "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class". This report analyses the trends of middle-income households in areas such as employment, consumption, wealth and debt, as well as perceptions and social attitudes. It also includes recommendations for protecting middle-class living standards and financial security in the face of economic challenges.

This country note provides information on latest trends in income inequalities as well as key findings from the 2011 OECD report "Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising".

Japan has increased its spending on overseas development assistance (ODA) and is showing more global leadership, but needs to pay more attention to where it is spending the money and increase its focus on results and transparency.

Japan could help laid-off workers find a job more quickly by improving co-ordination between public employment services and companies, as well as ensuring that all workers benefit from adequate Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, according to a new OECD report.

This country fact-sheet presents key figures from "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class". This report analyses the trends of middle-income households in areas such as employment, consumption, wealth and debt, as well as perceptions and social attitudes. It also includes recommendations for protecting middle-class living standards and financial security in the face of economic challenges.

Exports of Raw Hides Skins Leather & Furskins in South Africa decreased to 218.71 ZAR Million in March from 236.74 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Raw Hides Skins Leather & Furskins in South Africa averaged 323.27 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 452.29 ZAR Million in February of 2015 and a record low of 162.35 ZAR Million in January of 2019. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Raw Hides Skins Leather & Furskins.

Imports of Raw Hides Skins Leather & Furskins in South Africa decreased to 158.46 ZAR Million in March from 271.24 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Raw Hides Skins Leather & Furskins in South Africa averaged 328.80 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 477.07 ZAR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of 158.46 ZAR Million in March of 2020. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Raw Hides Skins Leather & Furskins.

Austria should set a timeframe to increase its aid budget in line with a pledge to allocate 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI) to development aid, according to an OECD Review.

This country fact-sheet presents key figures from "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class". This report analyses the trends of middle-income households in areas such as employment, consumption, wealth and debt, as well as perceptions and social attitudes. It also includes recommendations for protecting middle-class living standards and financial security in the face of economic challenges.

Financial-market complexity shouldn't lead to crisis. There is a better, simpler way: Split the banks.

This conference in Nairobi, Kenya, addressed specific issues relating to financial literacy in Africa and the MENA region. It presented the output of the Russia/OECD/World Bank Trust Fund on Financial Literacy and Education.

The paper argues that interest rates are at extremely low levels to support banks, and the search for yield has pushed the liquidity driven speculative bubble from real estate, derivatives and structured products markets into the corporate debt market. Equities have rallied strongly too. This asset cycle is certainly helping banks reduce hidden losses on illiquid securities and could also help reduce the cost of equity.

This book addresses gender differences in financial literacy and reviews policy responses and initiatives across the world to tackle women’s and girls’ needs, drawing lessons from existing experiences.

This paper investigates whether countries that had controls on inflows in place prior to the crisis were less vulnerable during the global financial crisis. More generally, it examines economic growth effects of such controls over the entire economic cycle, finding that capital restrictions on inflows (particularly debt liabilities) may be useful in good times but may have adverse effects in a crisis.

This paper analyses the effects of government policies on flows of private finance for investment in renewable energy. It also examines whether direct provision of public finance for a project increases the volume of private finance raised. The analysis covers 87 countries, six renewable energy sectors (wind, solar, biomass, small hydropower, marine and geothermal).

What are the economic effects of implicit bank debt guarantees and who ultimately benefits? This report sheds light on these questions

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental for inclusive growth and jobs, but they need to broaden their sources of finance in order to reduce their vulnerability to volatile credit market developments, according to two new OECD reports.

The reforms to the pensions system in Mexico, especially the introduction of a system of individual defined contribution accounts, have significantly improved the system’s financial sustainability.

Further structural reforms are needed to help the business sector boost productivity growth and overcome the key challenges of sluggish investment in advanced economies and excess capacity in emerging economies, according to a new OECD report.

This report provides estimates of the costs associated with bank resolution both in terms of the expected costs that might arise should a bank fail (i.e. as "ex-post" costs), as well as the cost associated with the likelihood that a solvent bank might fail (i.e. as "ex-ante" costs) over the next year.

This study explores the effectiveness of the incentive mechanisms embedded within the UK’s Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) for banks’ to expand their supply of lending to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

In 2014, the Financial Stability Board (FSB), in collaboration with the IMF and OECD, prepared a report for G20 leaders that sought to assess the cross-border consistencies and global financial stability implications of structural banking reform measures. To further examine structural banking reform measures taken since 2008, the OECD circulated a survey. This report describes the outcome of this survey.

Promoting responsible business conduct in the financial sector is vital to building a sustainable global economy. This paper will help institutional investors implement the due diligence recommendations of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises in order to prevent or address adverse impacts related to human and labour rights, the environment, and corruption in their investment portfolios.

16 November 2017 - The OECD Guidelines on Insurer Governance provide guidance and serve as a reference point for insurers, governmental authorities, and other relevant stakeholders in OECD and non-OECD countries. The Guidelines have been revised and expanded to reflect evolving market practices and updates to international guidance following the financial crisis.

Leading actors across the green finance and investment community talk to the OECD about what has to be done to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the broader set of environmental objectives linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The increasingly digital environment for financial products and services and the potential for digitalisation to support greater financial inclusion and inclusive growth, makes effective financial consumer protection more important than ever. This policy guidance focuses on areas related to the role of oversight bodies and disclosure and transparency.

The digitalisation of financial products and services, and the consequent need to strengthen digital financial literacy has become an important component of the global policy-making agenda. This guidance aims to identify and promote effective initiatives that enhance digital and financial literacy in light of the unique characteristics, advantages, and risks of digital financial services and channels.

Belgium is making a laudable push to direct more development aid to the poorest countries, but to deliver on this it needs to set firm deadlines, make its aid programme more flexible, and should reverse a decline in overall aid, according to an OECD Review.

The President of the French Republic, Mr. François Hollande, met the Heads of international economic organisations at the OECD on Monday 29th October.

The correlation between a firm’s size and its productivity level varies considerably across OECD countries, suggesting that some countries are more successful at channelling resources to high productivity firms than others.

This paper uses household level data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) over the period 1991 to 2008 to analyse the driving factors of movements in the German household savings rate.