Low oil prices and monetary easing are boosting growth in the world’s major economies, but the near-term pace of expansion remains modest, withabnormally low inflation and interest rates pointing to risks of financial instability, according to the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Assessment.

After three decades of extraordinary economic development, China is shifting to a slower and more sustainable growth path. Further reforms are now needed to ensure that future growth is resilient, inclusive and green, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of China.

The low and declining female labour force participation rate in India despite strong growth over the past decade is puzzling and stands out among emerging markets. At the same time greater economic participation of women can be a source of inclusive growth, and wellbeing.

The current low interest rate environment poses a significant risk for the long-term financial viability of pension funds and insurance companies, as they seek to generate sufficient returns to meet promises, according to a new OECD report.

Economic recovery is progressing in the world’s advanced economies, but stagnating world trade and deteriorating conditions in financial markets are curbing growth prospects in many of the major emerging economies, according to the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Outlook.

A further sharp downturn in emerging market economies and world trade has weakened global growth to around 2.9% this year - well below the long-run average – and is a source of uncertainty for near term prospects, says the OECD.

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.

The global economy is stuck in a low-growth trap that will require more coordinated and comprehensive use of fiscal, monetary and structural policies to move to a higher growth path and ensure that promises are kept to both young and old, according to the OECD’s latest Global Economic Outlook.

The European economy is gradually recovering but further policy action will be required to address unresolved legacies of the global economic crisis that are weighing on growth and major new concerns that have emerged, according to two new OECD reports.

Concerns around weak productivity growth are everywhere these days. As the latest OECD Economic Outlook notes, since the mid-2000s, productivity growth has been markedly lower than at any other time since the 1950s.

Costa Rica’s economic, social and environmental achievements are impressive. It has succeeded in combining rising living standards, virtually universal health care, pension and primary education systems with sustainable use of natural resources.

Using fiscal levers to escape the low-growth trap

Expansionary fiscal initiatives and maintaining trade openness are needed to push the global economy out of today’s low-growth trap, according to the OECD’s latest Global Economic Outlook.

Well-known global companies such as Google, Apple and Amazon of the digital era as well as more traditional ones of the likes of BMW, L’Oreal and Nestlé have recorded impressive productivity gains over the 2000s as they created more and more revenue per employee. At the same time, aggregate productivity growth in the OECD – that reflects the performance of all businesses not just the few most successful ones – has stagnated.

Growth in China has been slowing gradually, but GDP per capita remains on course to almost double between 2010 and 2020. As a result, the Chinese economy will remain the major driver of global growth for the foreseeable future.

The slowdown in productivity growth - already underway before the crisis – combined with sluggish investment, continued to undermine rises in economic output and material living standards in recent years in many of the world’s economies, according to a new report released today by the OECD.

Financial globalisation has given international capital flows a central role in the functioning of the global economy and has therefore led to considerable economic research over the past 30 years.

Lowering high levels of unemployment and inequality are amongst the largest challenges facing South Africa.

More than a quarter of adults in the United Kingdom have low basic skills, which has a negative impact on career prospects, job quality and productivity growth.

A favourable growth outlook offers Chile an opportunity to address its low productivity levels compared to other advanced economies, improve access to quality jobs and take steps to reduce its persistently high inequality, according to a new OECD report.

Current weak labour productivity growth in many OECD countries reflects historically weak contributions from both total factor productivity (TFP) growth and capital deepening.

Slow productivity growth in advanced economies holds back income gains and therefore improvements in well-being.

In 2016 the Polish government introduced a large new child benefit, called "Family 500+", with the aim to increase fertility from a low level and reduce child poverty.

With still large government debt and interest payments in many OECD countries, actively adjusting debt maturity can help to minimise debt servicing costs.

Low interest rates prevailing in many advanced economies in recent years have already helped to lower the debt servicing burden, but government debt and interest payments remain large in many OECD countries. Could a further reduction in interest payments be attained by "locking-in" current low interest rates?

The Czech economy is thriving, with robust employment, expanding exports and falling government debt. Efforts should now focus on boosting workforce skills and innovation to improve labour supply and productivity, further reduce poverty and inequality, and green the economy, according to two new OECD reports.

Tax revenues in Latin American countries are lower as a proportion of their national incomes than in most OECD countries, but are rising slowly. Revenue Statistics in Latin America shows that the average tax revenue to GDP ratio in the 15 Latin American countries covered by the report increased from 19% in 2009 to 19.4% in 2010, after falling from a high point of 19.7% in 2008.

This publication assesses the impact of previous competition law and policy reviews in nine Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Peru. This report was discussed during the 2012 annual meeting of the OECD-IDB Latin American Competition Forum held in the Dominican Republic.

Tax revenues in Latin American countries continue to rise but are lower as a proportion of their national incomes than in most OECD countries. Revenue Statistics in Latin America 2012 shows that Argentina and Brazil have the highest tax revenue to GDP ratio, while Guatemala and Dominican Republic stand at the lower end.

Low oil prices and monetary easing are boosting growth in the world’s major economies, but the near-term pace of expansion remains modest, withabnormally low inflation and interest rates pointing to risks of financial instability, according to the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Assessment.

Strong crop yields, higher productivity and slower growth in global demand should contribute to a gradual decline in real prices for agricultural products over the coming decade, but nonetheless, prices will likely remain at levels above those in the early-2000s, according to the latest Agricultural Outlook report produced by the OECD and FAO.

Strengthening OECD firewalls can only do so much to combat a phenomenon which thrives on weak governance. This report highlights that donor agencies can support this goal through their central role in linking OECD and developing countries, and using their aid to support governments willing to tackle these issues.

Whistleblowing is an essential element for safeguarding the public interest and for promoting a culture of public accountability and integrity. The majority of OECD countries have recently passed legislation protecting whistleblowers and yet, despite being high on the agenda, successful whistleblowing stories are rare.

Japan must make revitalising growth its number one priority with reforms to boost productivity and encourage more women and older people into jobs to compensate for its rapidly shrinking labour force, according to the OECD.

Using fiscal levers to escape the low-growth trap

For the last five years the global economy has been in a low-growth trap, with growth disappointingly low and stuck at around 3 per cent per year. Persistent growth shortfalls have weighed on future output expectations and thereby reduced current spending and potential output gains.

Conventional wisdom holds that countries with lower taxes attract higher levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). At first glance, this intuitive assumption seems to be supported by the evidence but is this true?. Pierre Poret, Deputy Director of the OECD Financial and Enterprise Affairs Directorate takes a closer look.

Foreign Direct Investment in Algeria increased by 0.48 USD Billion in the first quarter of 2019. Foreign Direct Investment in Algeria averaged 0.57 USD Billion from 2001 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 1.85 USD Billion in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a record low of -1.33 USD Billion in the first quarter of 2015. This page provides - Algeria Foreign Direct Investment Net Flows - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Maldives recorded a capital and financial account deficit of 1418.20 USD Million in 2018. Capital Flows in Maldives averaged -588 USD Million from 2011 until 2018, reaching an all time high of -59.50 USD Million in 2013 and a record low of -1418.20 USD Million in 2018. This page provides - Maldives Capital Flows- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Imports of Sunflower-seed Oil , Usd CMLV in Russia increased to 0.20 USD Million in February from 0.10 USD Million in January of 2020. Imports of Sunflower-seed Oil , Usd CMLV in Russia averaged 50.77 USD Million from 1994 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 255.20 USD Million in December of 1995 and a record low of 0.10 USD Million in January of 2013. Russia accounts for Imports of Sunflower-seed Oil , Usd using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for Russia Imports of Sunflower-seed Oil , Usd CMLV.

Wages Low Skilled in Burundi remained unchanged at 98300 BIF/Month in 2017 from 98300 BIF/Month in 2017. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys. This page provides - Burundi Wages Low Skilled- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages Low Skilled in Australia increased to 2710 AUD/Month in 2018 from 2670 AUD/Month in 2015. Wages Low Skilled in Australia averaged 2690 AUD/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 2710 AUD/Month in 2018 and a record low of 2670 AUD/Month in 2015. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Wages Low Skilled in Belgium increased to 1890 EUR/Month in 2018 from 1870 EUR/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Belgium averaged 1870 EUR/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1950 EUR/Month in 2016 and a record low of 1770 EUR/Month in 2015. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Wages Low Skilled in Brazil increased to 1440 BRL/Month in 2018 from 1160 BRL/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Brazil averaged 1230 BRL/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1440 BRL/Month in 2018 and a record low of 1140 BRL/Month in 2015. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Wages Low Skilled in Bulgaria increased to 600 BGN/Month in 2018 from 545 BGN/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Bulgaria averaged 533.75 BGN/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 600 BGN/Month in 2018 and a record low of 472 BGN/Month in 2015. This page provides - Bulgaria Wages Low Skilled- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages Low Skilled in Austria decreased to 1660 EUR/Month in 2018 from 1780 EUR/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Austria averaged 1750 EUR/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1800 EUR/Month in 2016 and a record low of 1660 EUR/Month in 2018. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys. This page provides - Austria Wages Low Skilled- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages Low Skilled in Angola decreased to 47400 AOA/Month in 2018 from 58200 AOA/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Angola averaged 51575 AOA/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 58200 AOA/Month in 2017 and a record low of 47400 AOA/Month in 2018. This page provides - Angola Wages Low Skilled- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages Low Skilled in Argentina increased to 10500 ARS/Month in 2018 from 10200 ARS/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Argentina averaged 8722.50 ARS/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 10500 ARS/Month in 2018 and a record low of 6250 ARS/Month in 2015. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Wages Low Skilled in Chile decreased to 388700 CLP/Month in 2018 from 397600 CLP/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Chile averaged 382825 CLP/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 397600 CLP/Month in 2017 and a record low of 363600 CLP/Month in 2015. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Wages Low Skilled in Finland decreased to 1980 EUR/Month in 2018 from 2000 EUR/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Finland averaged 1885 EUR/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 2000 EUR/Month in 2017 and a record low of 1580 EUR/Month in 2016. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.