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OECD releases discussion draft on branch mismatch structures under Action 2 of the BEPS Action Plan

Interested parties are invited to provide comments on a discussion draft which deals with branch mismatch structures under Action 2 (Neutralising the Effects of Hybrid Mismatch Arrangements) of the BEPS Action Plan.




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Public comments received on the discussion draft on branch mismatch structures under Action 2 of the BEPS Action Plan

The OECD publishes the comments received on the discussion draft on branch mismatch structures under Action 2 of the BEPS Action Plan.




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OECD releases peer review documents for assessment of BEPS minimum standards (Actions 5 and 13)

Today the OECD released key documents, approved by the Inclusive Framework on BEPS, which will form the basis of the peer review of Action 13 Country-by-Country Reporting and for the peer review of the Action 5 transparency framework.




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OECD releases peer review document for assessment of the BEPS Action 6 minimum standard

Today the OECD released the key document, approved by the Inclusive Framework on BEPS, which will form the basis of the peer review of the Action 6 minimum standard on preventing the granting of treaty benefits in inappropriate circumstances.




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BEPS: Neutralising the tax effects of branch mismatch arrangements

Today, the OECD released a report on Neutralising the Effects of Branch Mismatch Arrangements (BEPS Action 2). This new report sets out recommendations for changes to domestic law that would bring the treatment of these branch mismatch structures into line with outcomes described in the 2015 Report.




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OECD releases first peer reviews on implementation of BEPS minimum standards on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms

As part of continuing efforts to improve the international tax framework, the OECD has released the first analysis of individual country efforts to improve dispute resolution mechanisms.




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Governments rapidly dismantling harmful tax incentives worldwide: BEPS Project driving major changes to international tax rules

Governments have dismantled, or are in the process of amending, nearly 100 preferential tax regimes as part of the OECD/G20 BEPS standards to improve the international tax framework, according to a progress report released today.




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OECD releases second round of peer reviews on implementation of BEPS minimum standards on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms

As part of continuing efforts to improve the international tax framework and tax certainty, the OECD has released the second round of analyses of individual country efforts to improve dispute resolution mechanisms. These seven peer review reports represent the second round of stage 1 evaluations of how countries are implementing new minimum standards agreed in the OECD/G20 BEPS Project.




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OECD releases third round of peer reviews on implementation of BEPS minimum standards on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms and calls for taxpayer input for the fifth round

As the BEPS Action 14 continues its efforts to make dispute resolution more timely, effective and efficient, eight more peer review reports have been released today. These eight reports highlight how well jurisdictions are implementing the Action 14 minimum standard as agreed to in the OECD/G20 BEPS Project.




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Fiscal Federalism Network - News & Events

The OECD Network on Fiscal Relations across Levels of Government provides analysis and statistical underpinnings on the relationship between central and subcentral government, and its impact on efficiency, equity and macroeconomic stability.




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OECD releases fourth round of BEPS Action 14 peer review reports on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms

The work on BEPS Action 14 continues with today’s publication of the fourth round of stage 1 peer review reports. Each report assesses a country’s efforts to implement the Action 14 minimum standard as agreed to under the OECD/G20 BEPS Project.




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Simplified registration and collection mechanisms for taxpayers that are not located in the jurisdiction of taxation

This paper reviews and evaluates the efficacy of simplified tax registration and collection mechanisms for securing compliance of taxpayers over which the jurisdiction with taxing rights has limited or no authority to effectively enforce a tax collection or other compliance obligation.




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OECD releases BEPS peer review reports on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms and preventing treaty shopping

Progress continues with the implementation of the BEPS package, as the OECD releases additional peer review reports assessing countries’ efforts to implement the Action 6 and Action 14 minimum standards as agreed under the OECD/G20 BEPS Project.




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OECD releases first stage 2 monitoring reports for BEPS Action 14 on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms

The work on BEPS Action 14 continues with today’s publication of the first round of stage 2 peer review monitoring reports, which consists of monitoring the follow-up of any recommendations resulting from jurisdictions' stage 1 peer review reports.




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OECD releases sixth round of BEPS Action 14 peer review reports on improving tax dispute resolution mechanisms

The work on BEPS Action 14 continues with today's publication of the sixth round of stage 1 peer review reports. Each report assesses a country's efforts to implement the Action 14 minimum standard as agreed to under the OECD/G20 BEPS Project.




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New OECD self-assessment tool to help tax administrations tackle tax debt and reduce administrative burdens

The OECD today published two self-assessment maturity models on tax debt management and the reduction of compliance burdens, both critical areas for successful tax administration. Maturity models set out descriptions of capabilities and performance in a particular function or set of activities across a number of levels of increasing maturity, in the case of these models from an emerging to an aspirational level.




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Webcast: Update on Economic Analysis and Impact Assessment

As part of the Inclusive Framework’s work relating to the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy, the OECD has been carrying out an economic analysis and impact assessment of the Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 proposals. Please join a live webcast with experts from the OECD to learn more about this work, which will include a presentation of preliminary results on the revenue and investment effects of the proposals.




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Iraq Terrorism Index

Terrorism Index in Iraq decreased to 9.24 in 2018 from 9.75 in 2017. Terrorism Index in Iraq averaged 8.86 from 2002 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 10 in 2014 and a record low of 4.09 in 2002. The Global Terrorism Index measures the direct and indirect impact of terrorism, including its effects on lives lost, injuries, property damage and the psychological aftereffects. It is a composite score that ranks countries according to the impact of terrorism from 0 (no impact) to 10 (highest impact).




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Credit crunch squeezing entrepreneurs and small businesses more than big firms

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) requesting loans between 2007 and 2010 faced higher interest rates than for large companies. Loan conditions for SMEs included shortened maturities and increased demands for collateral, suggesting that banks considered smaller firms to be a higher risk.




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Investment: G20 governments must step up efforts to resist protectionism, says OECD, WTO, UNCTAD report

The OECD, WTO and UNCTAD have called on G20 governments to step up efforts to resist protectionism in the face of continuing high unemployment and a weak economic recovery.




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Self-assessment of South Africa's investment regime in relation to the OECD Codes of Liberalisation and the principle of National Treatment

This self-assessment report looks at South Africa's investment regime in the light of the OECD Codes of Liberalisation and the principle of National Treatment.




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Survey on the contribution of SMEs to due diligence for responsible mineral supply chains

The German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), supported by the OECD, has initiated a study to assess the contribution of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to due diligence for responsible mineral supply chains. To gather information for this study, SMEs were invited to take part on a confidential survey of due diligence activities by SMEs.




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Corruption and the smuggling of refugees

Corruption is one of the primary facilitators of refugee smuggling. In order to fight this crime, and help refugees safely realise their rights, the international community must understand the intricate connections between corruption and refugee smuggling.




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Mongolia should make combating nepotism and political corruption a priority

Mongolia’s rapid economic and social development, fuelled by the discovery of significant mineral resources, has exacerbated governance and corruption challenges.




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Lending volumes and credit conditions are improving for SMEs, but many firms continue to struggle to obtain financing that meets their needs

Lending volumes and credit conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have gradually improved, according to a new report from the OECD, but demand-side obstacles such as a lack of financial knowledge are contributing to holding back a stronger recovery.




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Small business access to alternative finance increasing as new bank lending declines

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly turning to alternative sources of financing, while new bank lending is declining in a number of countries. Many SMEs remain over-reliant on bank credit, however, and the take-up of instruments other than straight debt varies greatly from one country to another, according to a new OECD report.




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Survey on the sourcing practices of SMEs operating in the garment and footwear sector supply chain

As part of the implementation strategy for the recently adopted OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector, the OECD is conducting a series of surveys that target SMEs operating within the sector.




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The role of media and investigative journalism in combating corruption

This study explores good practices and challenges in the detection of international corruption cases via media reporting and investigative journalism.




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Alignment assessment of industry programmes with the OECD minerals guidance

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.




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ICTs and the Health Sector: Towards Smarter Health and Wellness Models

The future sustainability of health systems will depend on how well governments are able to anticipate and respond to efficiency and quality of care challenges. Bold action is required, as well as willingness to test innovative care delivery approaches. This book examines the whole new world of possibilities in using mobiles and the Internet to address healthcare challenges.




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OECD Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: Australia

Evaluation and assessment policies are key in Australia’s national school reform agenda. The Australian approach combines the development of goals, monitoring and reporting at national level with local evaluation and assessment practices shaped by jurisdiction-level school improvement frameworks




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Business brief: Newcastle in Australia: An emerging smart city

The city of Newcastle is fast emerging as a smart, liveable and sustainable city.




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Ukraine Terrorism Index

Terrorism Index in Ukraine decreased to 5.55 in 2018 from 6.05 in 2017. Terrorism Index in Ukraine averaged 3.06 from 2002 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 7.20 in 2014 and a record low of 0.15 in 2007. The Global Terrorism Index measures the direct and indirect impact of terrorism, including its effects on lives lost, injuries, property damage and the psychological aftereffects. It is a composite score that ranks countries according to the impact of terrorism from 0 (no impact) to 10 (highest impact).




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The Role of National Ecosystem Assessments in Influencing Policy Making

An ecosystem assessment is a social process through which the findings of science concerning the causes of ecosystem change, their consequences for human well-bring, and the management and policy options are evaluated. The main objective of the paper is to draw insights from experience in the UK, Japan, Spain and Portugal of the added value to policy making of undertaking national level ecosystem assessments.




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Japan can do more to encourage smooth transition of laid-off workers back into jobs, says OECD

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.




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Japan Policy Brief: Improving the performance of Japan's SME sector

Between 1999 and 2014, the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan dropped by 21% as a result of the retirement of ageing business owners and weak entrepreneurial intentions in the Japanese population.




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Uruguay Terrorism Index

Terrorism Index in Uruguay decreased to 0.17 in 2018 from 0.34 in 2017. Terrorism Index in Uruguay averaged 0.21 from 2002 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1.19 in 2005 and a record low of 0 in 2003. The Global Terrorism Index measures the direct and indirect impact of terrorism, including its effects on lives lost, injuries, property damage and the psychological aftereffects. It is a composite score that ranks countries according to the impact of terrorism from 0 (no impact) to 10 (highest impact).




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G20 ministers welcome OECD disaster risk assessment and financing framework

G20 Finance Ministers have welcomed a new OECD/G20 framework designed to help governments develop financial strategies for disaster risk management.




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2nd International Meeting on Terrorism Risk Insurance

Paris, 5 December 2012: This conference addressed the evolution of the terrorism threat and whether current insurance solutions adequately answer the needs of market players in an ever changing risk context.




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SMEs and the credit crunch: Current financing difficulties, policy measures and a review of literature

This article presents a brief overview of current financing difficulties for SMEs and policy measures to support SME lending during the crisis, and presents a literature review related to difficulties in SME’s access to finance during the crisis, against a background of a sharp decline in bank profitability and an erosion of bank capital that negatively affected lending.




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Launch of the OECD PISA financial literacy assessment of students

The results of the first international assessment of 15-year-old students’ financial literacy competencies were presented in Paris on 9 July 2014.




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3rd International Meeting on Terrorism Risk Insurance

Washington DC, 10 September 2014: This meeting addressed the evolution of the terrorism threat, the availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance, the financial liability of governments and short and long-term perspectives.




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Non-bank debt financing for SMEs: The role of securitisation, private placements and bonds

This article summarises discussions from an OECD Financial Roundtable on reducing bank dependence in financing small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and non-bank debt financing alternatives.




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Unlocking SME finance through market-based debt

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are key contributors to economic growth and job creation. The current economic and financial crisis has reduced bank lending and has affected SMEs in particular. Capital markets will have to play a bigger role in financing SMEs in order to make them more resilient to financial shocks. This article reviews the spectrum of alternative market-based debt instruments for SME financing.




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SMEs and entrepreneurs need to diversify their funding amid continued credit constraints

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.




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Building resilience to climate change risks at the level of cities and SMEs

29 October 2015, Paris - Resilient cities and SMEs are critical to reducing the economic disruption from climate-related disaster events. In the run up to COP21, these remarks by Adrian Blundell-Wignall at the AXA-UNEP-PSI Conference on Climate Resilience address the importance of building resilience to climate change risks at the level of cities and SMEs.




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G20/OECD High-level Principles on SME Financing

SMEs are important engines of innovation, growth, job creation and social cohesion. However, they can only reach their full potential if they obtain the finance necessary to start, sustain and grow their business. These voluntary principles provide broad guidelines on how to enhance access by SMEs to finance to help increase the contribution of SMEs to resilient and inclusive growth.




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Opportunities and limitations of public equity markets for SMEs

This article on public equity financing for SMEs complements earlier OECD work on market-based finance for SMEs. The development of this market segment could promote investment in SMEs and, together with securitisation and other non-bank debt financing instruments, encourage an enhanced allocation of risk and risk taking, and thus support growth.




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Colombia: Assessment of the Regulatory Framework of Private Pensions

This review of Colombia by the OECD Working Party on Private Pensions examines Colombia’s position with respect to core principles related to pension systems.




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OJK-OECD High-level Regional Seminar on Empowering MSMEs through Financial Literacy and Inclusion

Jakarta, 1-2 June 2016: This seminar addressed the importance of financial literacy and financial education for empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).