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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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Despite progress made and improved legal framework, OECD seriously concerned about Turkey’s level of detection and investigation of foreign bribery

Turkey is a significant and geopolitically critical economy. Its companies, like those from many other countries, operate in corruption-prone sectors and countries. In spite of this, only 10 allegations have come to the attention of Turkish authorities since foreign bribery became an offence in Turkey in 2003.




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Rebalancing Turkey’s growth by improving resource allocation and productivity in manufacturing

Turkey’s manufacturing sector has expanded considerably but not efficiently and competitively enough.




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Tax: Uruguay’s tax transparency improving, says OECD’s Gurría

Uruguay has signed 7 new agreements providing for the exchange of tax information, showing its willingness to implement the global standards.




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Global Forum Secretariat and United Arab Emirates enhance co-operation to improve tax transparency in the MENA region

The Global Forum Secretariat enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates, confirming UAE’s commitment to the Global Forum’s work on transparency and exchange of information.




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Improving international tax co-operation: OECD releases reports on automatic exchange and tax confidentiality

Furthering its efforts to strengthen international tax co-operation, the OECD has issued two new reports on automatic exchange and tax confidentiality. The report on automatic exchange of information describes what it is, how it works, where it stands and what challenges remain. The report on confidentiality of information exchanged examines all aspects of ensuring the protection of information exchanged for tax purposes.




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Senegal takes key steps towards improving tax transparency

Senegal today signed the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. Senegal is the 11th country of the African continent to sign the Convention and the 93rd jurisdiction to join it. Simultaneously to signing the Convention, Senegal today also became the 32nd signatory of Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement for the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports (CbC MCAA).




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Kuwait takes key steps towards improving tax transparency

Today, Kuwait joined the 83 current signatories to the CRS Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement ("CRS MCAA"), the key international framework agreement for putting in place the automatic exchange of information on offshore financial accounts foreseen by the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS).




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Countries adopt multilateral convention to close tax treaty loopholes and improve functioning of international tax system

More than 100 jurisdictions have concluded negotiations on a multilateral instrument that will swiftly implement a series of tax treaty measures to update international tax rules and lessen the opportunity for tax avoidance by multinational enterprises.




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Raising revenues through carbon pricing can help improve energy affordability

This report uses household level data covering 20 OECD countries to analyse energy affordability at current energy prices and explores how these indicators change in response to a simulated energy tax reform. The report finds that higher energy prices, needed to cut harmful carbon emissions and air pollution, can also help achieve social policy objectives.




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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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Revenue mobilisation in Africa continues to improve, says new report

The mobilisation of domestic resources is improving steadily in African countries, according to new data from Revenue Statistics in Africa 2017 released today in Addis Ababa at a meeting of tax and finance officials from 21 African countries hosted by the Department of Economic Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC).




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Tax Inspectors Without Borders - Bolstering domestic revenue collection through improved tax audit capacities

International tax experts gathered today at the OECD in Paris to share experiences and identify best practices in the implementation of Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) programmes.




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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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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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Improving the Czech health care system

The Czech health care system is doing well in terms of health outcomes compared to other Central East European economies that inherited similar health systems after the transition and has been converging to OECD averages.




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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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Platform for Collaboration on Tax: International organisations move to help developing countries improve tax systems

The world's four leading multilateral organisations working in the tax area have established their first integrated website containing information on how low- and middle-income countries can strengthen tax systems and mobilise the domestic revenue they need to address some of their urgent development challenges—including the COVID-19 pandemic.




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OECD recognises Switzerland’s commitment to the fight against foreign bribery and recommends further improvements

The Phase 3 Report on Switzerland by the OECD Working Group on Bribery evaluates and makes recommendations on Switzerland 's implementation and application of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.




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Despite progress made and improved legal framework, OECD seriously concerned about Turkey’s level of detection and investigation of foreign bribery

Turkey is a significant and geopolitically critical economy. Its companies, like those from many other countries, operate in corruption-prone sectors and countries. In spite of this, only 10 allegations have come to the attention of Turkish authorities since foreign bribery became an offence in Turkey in 2003.




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Design of funded private pensions needs to be improved

Funded Pension arrangements, in particular defined contribution ones, are playing a growing role in complementing retirement income from public sources in OECD countries and worldwide. However, their design needs to be improved, according to a new OECD report.




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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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The Czech Republic must take significant steps to enforce its foreign bribery laws, but demonstrates commitment to improve

The Czech Republic must strengthen its efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute foreign bribery. Seventeen years after ratifying the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the Czech Republic has yet to prosecute a case involving the bribery of foreign public officials.




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Health: medical care improving but better prevention and management of chronic diseases needed to cut costs, says OECD

Though overall medical care is improving, efforts to prevent and better manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma would improve results and lower costs, according to the OECD’s latest edition of Health at a Glance.




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Israel: excellent primary health care, but hospitals must improve

Israel has world class-primary care services and should now focus efforts on bringing its hospitals up to the same high international standards, according to the OECD’s Health Care Quality Review of Israel.




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OECD Expert Workshop on Improving Health Expenditure Forecasting Methods

This workshop will convene leading experts from health and finance backgrounds in government, academia, and international organisations to take stock of progress in health expenditure forecasting and to discuss future directions, in light of policy needs and recent advancements in techniques, detailed data and computing power.




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Asia/Pacific region: Improving the quality of its healthcare

Though the rate of public spending on healthcare in the Asia/Pacific region is still well below the OECD average, countries there are committing more resources to improving health care quality.




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Denmark: good hospitals but primary health care must improve

The Danish central government and regions are leading international efforts to reform hospital systems, improving quality and safety by gathering specialists into major hospitals and closing smaller ones.




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Norway should improve incentives to encourage people to work longer, says OECD

Norway is better placed to cope with population ageing than most other countries. But it could still do more to improve incentives and opportunities for people to stay working longer which would help ensure the country’s long-term future, according to a new OECD report.




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Improving detection and treatment would cut cancer death rates significantly, says OECD

Earlier detection and better treatment for cancer would cut death rates from the disease by around a third, saving the lives of nearly a million people in the developed world every year, according to a new report by the OECD prepared with the support of the European Commission, building on earlier World Health Organisation research.




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Japan needs to improve the efficiency of its health care system, says OECD Health at a Glance report

Japan has good health outcomes and has rapidly increased its spending on health care in recent years. It now needs to focus on improving efficiency of its health system in order to continue delivering high-quality care while containing costs, according to a new OECD report.




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Sweden has excellent health care but must improve care co-ordination, says OECD

Sweden’s health and elderly care systems deserve their reputation as being among the best in the world. Yet an ageing population with growing chronic conditions and requiring more complex health services are testing Sweden’s ability to continue delivering high-quality care, according to a new OECD report.




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Switzerland needs to improve its approach to mental-health issues in the labour force, says OECD

Switzerland needs to do more to help people with mental disorders find a job or stay in work, according to a new OECD report.




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Czech Republic should improve primary care and prevention to reduce chronic disease, says OECD

Strengthening primary health care and prevention programmes would help stem the growing tide of diabetes and other chronic health conditions in the Czech Republic, according to a new OECD report.




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Most Asia/Pacific countries need to improve affordable access to healthcare, says OECD

Countries in the Asia/Pacific region need to step up their efforts to give more people access to affordable, quality health care. Too many people, especially women, cannot get the medical treatment they need due to high costs, difficulties in getting permission to see a doctor or a lack of health care providers in rural areas, according to a new OECD report.




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Health care quality improved in Portugal, despite tight budgets

The Portuguese National Health Service has responded well to financial pressure, successfully balancing the twin priorities of financial consolidation and continuous quality improvement, according to a new OECD report.




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Healthcare improving too slowly to meet rising strain of chronic diseases

Too many lives are still lost in OECD countries because healthcare quality is improving too slowly to cope with ageing populations and the growing number of people with one or more chronic diseases, according to a new OECD report.




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Colombia still faces challenges to improve health care quality

Colombia has significantly improved its health system over the past 20 years, leading to a rise in life expectancy and a fall in infant mortality. To maintain its ambition of universal, high-quality health care, Colombia should now focus on improving efficiency and strengthening financial sustainability, according to a new OECD report.




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Latvia faces important challenges to improve the performance of its health system

Latvia has successfully consolidated its hospital sector and strengthened primary care since the financial crisis. But persistent barriers to accessing high quality care need to be removed, according to a new OECD report.




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Improving Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems: OECD Conference Proceedings

How can government policies move towards increasing agricultural innovation and improving productivity? This OECD conference shared case studies and ideas from Europe, China, United States, India, Africa, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.




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Australia should improve the quality of vocational education and training to help young people into work

Australia should follow up on the reform of its vocational education system by improving quality control in the VET sector and step up career guidance for young people to boost young people’s job prospects and reduce the share of under-30-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs), according to a new OECD report.




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Global economy is improving but Europe lags behind, says OECD

Global economic activity is picking up, but the continuing crisis in the euro area is delaying a meaningful recovery, the OECD said in its latest Interim Economic Assessment.




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Japan needs to improve the efficiency of its health care system, says OECD Health at a Glance report

Japan has good health outcomes and has rapidly increased its spending on health care in recent years. It now needs to focus on improving efficiency of its health system in order to continue delivering high-quality care while containing costs, according to a new OECD report.




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Japan Policy Brief: Improving the labour market outcomes of women

Facilitating female employment is particularly important given Japan’s shrinking and ageing population, which has already contributed to labour shortages.




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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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OECD report on labour migration in Austria: the need to improve the RWR Card

This publication analyses the reform and the Austrian labour migration management system in international comparison.




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Improving the monitoring of the value of implicit guarantees for bank debt

The value of implicit guarantees has declined from its peak at the height of the financial crisis, which is consistent with progress made regarding the bank regulatory reform agenda, as one would expect that many of the reform measures imply a more limited value of implicit guarantees for bank debt. Implicit guarantees persist however and their value continues to be significant.