Productivity growth – the central driver of rising economic output and material living standards – has been slowing in many advanced and emerging economies in the wake of the crisis, according to new data released today in the OECD Compendium of Productivity Indicators.

Recent seizures of fake medical supplies being marketed as protection against Covid-19 underscore the need to address a growing international trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals that is costing billions of euros a year and putting lives at risk, according to the OECD and the EU’s Intellectual Property Office.

Why do people migrate? Mainly for a job and the hope of a better life for themselves and their children. But how do immigrants fare during a time of crisis?

International migration flows are essential for the effective functioning of our economies. Even in times of crisis and fiscal constraint, a holistic approach is required to fully reap its full benefits, said Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General.

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría welcomes the initiative of President Francois Hollande and Chancellor Angela Merkel to put forward a structural and ambitious response to the current refugee crisis.

OECD countries are facing an unprecedented refugee crisis and the situation requires a comprehensive and co-ordinated international response to address the immediate needs of asylum seekers and the longer-term challenge of helping them integrate. This is the main message of two new OECD documents, the 2015 International Migration Outlook and a Policy Brief on the Refugee Crisis.

The current humanitarian crisis is unprecedented with an appalling and unacceptable human cost. This issue of Migration Policy Debates looks at the most recent developments in the humanitarian migration crisis and what makes this crisis different from previous ones.

The OECD LEED Programme launches this "Call for Initiatives" to extract what local authorities and other actors know works, what the new scenario is demanding and how equipped they are to respond. We are interested in learning from the experiences of EU member countries, the wider OECD area as well as other countries.

The OECD and CEB have led global work on migration for decades: the OECD has contributed analysis, data, knowledge, and tools to inform dialogue and shape policy; and CEB has worked on the frontlines, financing social projects for migrants, refugees, displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups. Given the complementarities between our work, the potential synergies from co-operation are clear.

This article by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría addresses the refugee crisis, encouraging governments to seize the opportunity that refugees bring for our economies and societies.

Agriculture production is highly dependent on water and increasingly subject to water risks; and is the largest using sector and a major polluter of water. Improving agriculture’s water management is essential to a sustainable and productive agro-food sector.

Spurred by a rise in 2019 development aid, the OECD and its donor member countries are working to help the most vulnerable countries during the coronavirus crisis. Official development assistance (ODA) provided by OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members rose by 1.4% in real terms to USD 152.8 billion in 2019.

Recent seizures of fake medical supplies being marketed as protection against coronavirus (Covid-19) have underscored the need to address a growing international trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals. The trafficking of fake or defective medicines is costly and puts lives at risk, according to the new OECD and EU reports.

The global economic crisis has had a profound impact on people’s well-being, reaching far beyond the loss of jobs and income, and affecting citizens’ satisfaction with their lives and their trust in governments, according to a new OECD report.

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría welcomes the initiative of President Francois Hollande and Chancellor Angela Merkel to put forward a structural and ambitious response to the current refugee crisis.

Urgent action must be taken by the governments to tackle high unemployment and growing inequality. Good-quality social policies, particularly those addressed to the most vulnerable, should be seen as sound investments to promote economic growth and well-being, according to Angel Gurría.

Re-igniting growth and putting people back to work will be essential to restore citizens’ confidence with positive spill-over effects on other policy measures and their effectiveness, said OECD Secretary-General.

Income inequality increased by more in the first three years of the crisis to the end of 2010 than it had in the previous twelve years, before factoring in the effect of taxes and transfers on income, according to new OECD data.

There is no simple remedy for fixing the post-crisis global economy. But three key ingredients for sustainable long-term growth are jobs, equality and trust, said OECD Secretary-General in Washington.

This paper presents an overview of the situation of youth in OECD countries since the financial crisis, describing the characteristics and living conditions of young NEETs. It provides data on income-support policies for young people, and summarises available evidence on the impact of interventions that aim at improving the social, education and employment situation of the most disadvantaged youth.

Three out of four OECD countries use minimum wages, and supporting low-wage earners is widely seen as important for promoting inclusive growth. This policy brief considers three aspects that are central for a balanced assessment of policy choices: The cost of employing minimum-wage workers, their take-home pay, and the number of workers affected.

Good pay, labour market security and a decent working environment can go hand in hand with high employment, according to new OECD findings on the quality of jobs in 45 countries.

The OECD LEED Programme launches this "Call for Initiatives" to extract what local authorities and other actors know works, what the new scenario is demanding and how equipped they are to respond. We are interested in learning from the experiences of EU member countries, the wider OECD area as well as other countries.

How can we earn back the trust of young people? Improving openness, transparency, accountability, and access to information is essential. On the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day and Transparency International’s 20th Anniversary, the OECD and Transparency International are inviting young people for a discussion about how to push the integrity agenda forward together.

The jobs gap between well-educated young people and those who left school early has continued to widen during the crisis. A good education is the best insurance against a lack of work experience, according to the latest edition of the OECD’s annual Education at a Glance.

The insight that education is valuable both to individuals and to countries is not new. Using continuously improving data and statistical tools, we have come to understand and appreciate the magnitude of education’s impact on employment, income, health and life opportunities in general.

The OECD LEED Programme launches this "Call for Initiatives" to extract what local authorities and other actors know works, what the new scenario is demanding and how equipped they are to respond. We are interested in learning from the experiences of EU member countries, the wider OECD area as well as other countries.

Market leaders such as BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street have gained control of 61% of the industry’s assets

1. 'Response to coronavirus crisis has been anemic, spotty': Barack Obama slams Donald Trump's handling of...  Firstpost
2. What Barack Obama Said About Trump's Handling Of COVID-19 In Leaked Call  NDTV
3. Obama lashes out at Trump’s handling of coronavirus  Deccan Chronicle
4. ‘Chaotic Disaster:’ Obama Slams Trump’s Response to Coronavirus  The Quint
5. ‘Absolute chaotic disaster’: Barack Obama criticises Donald Trump's handling of COVID-19 crisis  Times Now
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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RBS forecasts a big fall in home ownership and experts expect the trend to accelerate as house sales resume.

Thousands of vital coronavirus 'contact tracers' are only now being recruited by the Government - two weeks after the Health Secretary first announced they would be hired.

Deeply worried about Beijing's insatiable desire for land and the way its military has occupied areas by stealth, Washington has sent three warships to the region.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has defended the decision to stand down 20,000 staff in the face of the coronavirus outbreak which he described as the worst crisis to ever hit the airline industry.

It would supplement a federal government package worth $1billion which has already been committed to the ailing Australian aviation industry hit hard by the crisis' impact on global travel.

Facebook has extended its Crisis Response tools to WhatsApp, allowing those with poor connectivity to alert friends and family about what's happening - as it may be their only way to alert others.

The brutal impact of the pandemic on the economy was laid bare yesterday by figures showing that fewer than 1,000 new cars were sold to private consumers last month. 

Thousands of vital coronavirus 'contact tracers' are only now being recruited by the Government - two weeks after the Health Secretary first announced they would be hired.

Deeply worried about Beijing's insatiable desire for land and the way its military has occupied areas by stealth, Washington has sent three warships to the region.

Pogba is set to miss the game with the ankle injury that forced him to withdraw from international duty with France, while Anthony Martial (thigh), Luke Shaw (thigh) and Diogo Dalot (hip) are also out.

There will be many changes for the worse when we finally creep out of lockdown and realise that the economy has gone into shrink mode.Cash will be a 'victim' of coronavirus.

RBS forecasts a big fall in home ownership and experts expect the trend to accelerate as house sales resume.

Like the rest of us, Nicole Kidman has had to find unique ways to entertain herself while in self-isolation.

Almost 4,000 members of the Armed Forces pension scheme breached their annual allowance in 2017-18. This puts them at risk of five or six-figure tax bills under changes introduced in 2016.

The Football League will announce next week that there will be no further games in Leagues One and Two - but that the play-offs could still take place to determine who wins promotion.

Wilfried Zaha has called on NHS staff in London to reach out to housing firm Zo Properties, which he co-owns, who are offering housing to medical staff fighting against the coronavirus pandemic.

India is unilaterally opening its doors to imports of wheat at a time when several contentious issues remain to be settled in the World Trade Organisation. This deliberate step up will result in serious consequences, and weaken the country's bargaining power, writes Ashok B Sharma.

There is now a quiet but intense debate within some segments of the corporate sector on the crisis in governance due to communalism, says Rajni Bakshi.

It is ironic that 'Conservation Agriculture' the new wave from agriculture scientists, requires so much new technology, and focuses so little on existing traditional knowledge of conservation techniques, writes Devinder Sharma.

India’s unemployment rate jumped to 27.1% from 8.4% as per the latest report by CMIE. The numbers in USA are 16.1% & 30 million folks unemployed, that’s close to ten percent of the American population…...