In this paper we assess the determinants of secondary school outcomes in South Africa. We use Bayesian Averaging Model techniques to account for uncertainty in the set of underlying factors that are chosen among a very large pool of explanatory variables in order to minimize the risk of omitted variable bias.

Several studies have reported a large negative effect of national borders on the volume of trade. We provide new estimates of the border effect for continental Europe using road rather than great circle – or "as-crows-fly" – distance.

This paper analyses convergence in per capita gross regional product of Russia’s regions during the period 1995-2010, when regional data are available.

Industrial specialization has important implications for economic performance; therefore, understanding its determinants is of key policy relevance.

This paper exploits longitudinal data on firm performance and patenting activity for 23 OECD countries over the period 2003-2010 to explore the extent to which changes in the patent stock are associated with flows of capital and labour to patenting firms.

This paper quantifies the importance of different determinants of trade at the industry level using a sample of 54 OECD and non-OECD economies. The empirical methodology extends the approach of previous empirical studies to explicitly quantify the impact that trading partners’ factor endowments and policies have on bilateral trade, and to analyse the effect of tariffs on the volume and composition of trade.

Many studies on household energy efficiency investments suggest that a wide range of seemingly profitable investments are not taken up. This paper provides novel evidence on the main factors behind consumer choices using the OECD Survey on Household Environmental Behaviour and Attitudes.

This paper investigates whether OECD countries are facing secular stagnation. Secular stagnation is defined as a situation when policy interest rates bounded at zero fail to stimulate demand sufficiently, due to low or negative neutral real interest rates and low inflation, and when ensuing prolonged and subdued growth undermines potential growth via labour hysteresis and discouraged investment.

Beyond usual determinants of trade such as GDP, distance, contiguity, free trade areas and language, this analysis mainly focuses on the role of product market regulation stringency and heterogeneity, and on the role of employment protection.

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

This paper explores the link between skill and qualification mismatch and labour productivity using cross-country industry data for 19 OECD countries.

The slowdown in productivity growth over the past decade underscores the idea that as economies converge toward the global technological frontier, the ability to capitalise on new innovations developed at frontier becomes more important.

This paper examines the use of two forms of non-standard work contracts in Russia with data from an enterprise survey for the years 2009 to 2011. Non-standard work contracts are less costly and more flexible for employers. Internal adjustment in form of wage cuts or unpaid leave is not covered by the Labour Code and earlier practices to impose such measures are less tolerated.

This paper provides empirical evidence on links between the productivity of Portuguese firms and a number of policy variables in Portugal. The analysis is based on a census of Portuguese manufacturing companies, covering more than 40,000 firms between 2006 and 2011.

This paper analyses the characteristics of firms that operate at the global productivity frontier and their relationship with other firms in the economy, focusing on the diffusion of global productivity gains and the policies that faciliate it.

Based on the OECD data from the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) this paper sheds light on the skills of migrants.

Knowing who gains and loses from regulatory reform is important for understanding the political economy of reform. Using micro-level data from 26 countries, this paper studies how regulatory reform of network industries, a policy priority in many advanced economies, influences the labour market situation of workers in network industries.

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).

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)

This paper investigates the relationship linking investment (capital stock) and structural policies.

Empirical research on the drivers of multi-factor productivity (MFP) is abundant at the firm- and industry level but surprisingly little research has been conducted on the determinants of MFP at the macroeconomic level.

Financial inclusion and women entrepreneurship concern policymakers because of their impact on job creation, economic growth and women empowerment.

This paper estimates urban and rural poverty rates across five Chinese administrative regions (Shanghai, Liaoning, Guangdong, Henan and Gansu) in 2014 using representative household level data from the China Family Panel Studies survey.

The personal tax system has a large influence on incentives to work, save and invest and hence growth. At the same time it is a key policy lever for income redistribution.

This paper investigates the effect of export entry on productivity, employment and wages of Latvian and Estonian firms in the context of global value chain (GVC).

Markets and commentators are speculating that there may be a sustained pick-up in inflation in the United States, after years of subdued price pressures. Along with continued solid US jobs growth and low unemployment, there are tentative signs of higher wage growth and the fiscal stimulus will also boost short-term growth. Global growth is also getting stronger.

Reforming the public sector, long a priority for Thailand, involves several challenges. Among these, insufficient public participation in policy-making is undermining the efficient allocation of resources toward public needs and development goals.

This paper provides robust empirical evidence that government effectiveness is a key determinant of sovereign defaults.

Colombia has engaged in a sustained process of fiscal decentralisation over the past decades. Evidence is presented that the current framework is conducive to fiscal sustainability, especially after the reforms in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

This paper contributes to the scarce literature on the macroeconomic effects of property taxes, in particular on the relationships between property taxes, house prices and the wider economy.

This paper analyses income inequality in Ireland using a new panel dataset based on the administrative tax records of the Revenue Commissioners for Ireland.

This paper investigates the relationship between fiscal decentralisation and economy-wide disposable income inequality.

This paper reviews the key issues concerning the impact of public spending and taxation on long-run growth and inequality and takes stock of existing theoretical and empirical studies.

This paper exploits firm-level data from the ORBIS database to assess international tax planning by multinational enterprises (MNEs).

This paper surveys the theoretical and empirical research on the relationship between local taxation, land use regulation and land use patterns.

The event, organised by the OECD Directorate for Public Governance in cooperation with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Campbell Collaboration and the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), developed a strategic agenda for the OECD on how to connect policy evidence on what works and what doesn’t.

This paper examines key developments in public and private corporate governance enforcement in the Middle East and North Africa region, highlighting the growing level of public enforcement as expertise within the securities regulators grows and providing policy recommendations on specific aspects of governance frameworks.

Middle East-focused group’s discovery follows revelations over undisclosed debt

Amber Heard is demanding that Johnny Depp hand over information on his drug treatment and arrests, which she claims is critical evidence to her case.

Johnny Depp is suing the tabloid's publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor Dan Wootton over an April 2018 article which referred to the 56-year-old as a 'wife-beater'.

TOM LEONARD: Last week, the Los Angeles trial of suspected serial killer Michael Gargiulo was treated to the bizarre sight of a moustachioed Ashton Kutcher - in a courtroom that wasn't a film set.

Josie Harris, 40, the mother of the boxer's three children, was found dead in her car by police in California on Tuesday night.

Speaking to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, the head of South Korea's intelligence agency said there was nothing to indicate the rumours about Kim's ill-health were true.

The head of the conservative 'Freedom Caucus' says government investigators may have 'tampered' with evidence that helped secure fired National Security Advisor Mike Flynn's guilty plea.

PETER HITCHENS: This newspaper has now obtained the team's original, uncensored interim report which differs sharply from all later versions, including the March document.

Raymond Bryce was given an £130 fine for not paying London's congestion charge. It was cancelled after TfL did not confirm if their cameras were linked to atomic time, according to an appeal body.

The details regarding the FBI investigation - dubbed Operation Encore - has mostly been shrouded in secrecy since the terror attacks occurred in 2001.

Rudy Giuliani threatened on Thursday to go public with evidence that Joe and Hunter Biden made 'millions' in the Ukraine by 'selling public office.'  He offered no timeline nor proof of his charge.

Rudy Giuliani promised in a rambling Fox News interview to release shocking 'evidence' regarding Ukraine corruption that he claims will prompt a probe into both Bidens.

The president's personal counsel - who is not part of his impeachment defense in the Senate - had told Fox News he would offer evidence at noon Friday, but his new podcast had no new facts.