A broken social elevator? Key findings for United States

This country note for the United States provides detail on the proportion of CO2 emissions from energy use subject to different effective carbon rates (ECR), as well as on the level and components of average ECRs in each of the six economic sectors (road transport, off-road transport, industry, agriculture and fishing, residential & commercial, and electricity).

The United States has one of the lowest rates of non-standard forms of work among OECD countries. In particular, the United States has the lowest rate of self-employment among OECD countries with 6.2% compared to an OECD average of 14.2%

This country note explains how the United States taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The United States spends more on healthcare than any other OECD country, both as a proportion of GDP (16.9%) and per person (USD 10 586). High levels of spending have not translated into people leading longer lives. Life expectancy at birth is two years below the OECD average, and actually declined by over two months between 2012 and 2017.

Key findings for the United States from the report "Pensions at a Glance 2019"

The tax-to-GDP ratio in the United States decreased by 2.5 percentage points from 26.8% in 2017 to 24.3% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in the United States increased by 0.2 percentage points from 29.6 in 2018 to 29.8 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 the United States had the 29th lowest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of obesity: nearly one in three adults are obese. As a result, people in the United Kingdom live on average 2.7 years less due to overweight. Overweight accounts for 8.4% of health expenditure; and lowers labour market outputs by the equivalent of 944 thousand full time workers per year. Combined, this means that overweight reduces United Kingdom’s GDP by 3.4%.

This country note explains how the United Kingdom taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The United Kingdom spends almost 10% of its GDP on health, about one percentage point higher than the OECD average. This is projected to reach 11.4% by 2030. This level of spending buys strong access to health care, with low levels of inequality, though long-term care services are less accessible. Quality of care indicators are typically close to the OECD average. Health outcomes are fairly good.

The tax-to-GDP ratio in the United Kingdom increased by 0.2 percentage points from 33.3% in 2017 to 33.5% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in the United Kingdom remained the same at 30.9 percentage points between 2018 and 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 the United Kingdom had the 27th lowest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

This note presents key findings for New Zealand from Society at a Glance 2014 - OECD Social indicators. This 2014 publication also provides a special chapter on: the crisis and its aftermath: a “stress test” for societies and for social policies.

The tax burden in New Zealand declined by 0.9 percentage points from 33.0% to 32.1%, the third largest fall amongst member countries in 2013. The OECD average was an increase of 0.4 percentage points from 33.7% to 34.1%. New Zealand’s standard GST rate is 15%, which is below the OECD average. The average VAT/GST standard rate in the OECD was 19.1% on 1 January 2014.

Going for Growth 2015: Key findings for New Zealand

At 75%, the employment rate in New Zealand is the third highest among OECD countries and has been only marginally affected by the recent economic crisis.

This country note provides an environmental tax and carbon pricing profile for New Zealands. It shows environmentally related tax revenues, taxes on energy use and effective carbon rates.

This note presents marginal effective tax rates (METRs) that summarise the tax system’s impact on the incentives to make an additional investment in a particular type of savings. By comparing METRs on different types of household savings, we can gain insights into which assets or savings types receive the most favourable treatment from the tax system.

This country note for New Zealand provides detail on the proportion of CO2 emissions from energy use subject to different effective carbon rates (ECR), as well as on the level and components of average ECRs in each of the six economic sectors (road transport, off-road transport, industry, agriculture and fishing, residential & commercial, and electricity).

The digital revolution, globalisation and demographic changes are transforming labour markets at a time when policy makers are also struggling with slow productivity and wage growth and high levels of income inequality. The new OECD Jobs Strategy provides a comprehensive framework and policy recommendations to help countries address these challenges.

This document describes the key findings for Northern Ireland from the OECD Skills Strategy 2019

New Zealand's tax-to-GDP ratio was 32.0% in 2017, below the OECD average (34.2%) by 2.2 percentage points, and above the LAC and Africa (21)* averages (22.8% and 18.2%, respectively).

This country note explains how New Zealand taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The tax-to-GDP ratio in New Zealand increased by 0.6 percentage points from 32.1% in 2017 to 32.7% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in New Zealand increased by 0.4 percentage points from 18.4 in 2018 to 18.8 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 New Zealand had the 35th lowest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

This note presents key findings for Canada from Society at a Glance 2014 - OECD Social indicators. This 2014 publication also provides a special chapter on: the crisis and its aftermath: a “stress test” for societies and for social policies.

Going for Growth 2015: Key findings for Canada

Life expectancy in Canada is one year higher than the OECD average and about three years higher than in the United States, but remains significantly lower than in leading OECD countries (Japan, Spain and Switzerland).

This country note provides an environmental tax and carbon pricing profile for Canada. It shows environmentally related tax revenues, taxes on energy use and effective carbon rates.

This country note presents student performance in science, reading and mathematics, and measures equity in education in Canada. The interactive charts allow you to compare results with other countries participating in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Selected findings for Canada from the report "The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle"

Selected findings for Canada from the report "Preventing Ageing Unequally"

Canada’s population is slightly healthier than the OECD average, considering life expectancy and other general measures of health status. Smoking and alcohol consumption are also a little lower than the OECD average, but obesity rates are high. Indicators for access and quality of care are generally good, achieved with a level of health spending not much higher than the OECD average.

Key findings for Canada from the report "Pensions at a Glance 2017"

This note presents marginal effective tax rates (METRs) that summarise the tax system’s impact on the incentives to make an additional investment in a particular type of savings. By comparing METRs on different types of household savings, we can gain insights into which assets or savings types receive the most favourable treatment from the tax system.

A broken social elevator? Key findings for Canada

This country note for Canada provides detail on the proportion of CO2 emissions from energy use subject to different effective carbon rates (ECR), as well as on the level and components of average ECRs in each of the six economic sectors (road transport, off-road transport, industry, agriculture and fishing, residential & commercial, and electricity).

The digital revolution, globalisation and demographic changes are transforming labour markets at a time when policy makers are also struggling with slow productivity and wage growth and high levels of income inequality. The new OECD Jobs Strategy provides a comprehensive framework and policy recommendations to help countries address these challenges.

The Canadian standard Federal GST rate is 5.0%, which is below the OECD average. The average VAT/GST¹ standard rate in the OECD was 19.3% as of 1 January 2019. The previous standard VAT rate in Canada was 6% in 2007. It changed to the current level in 2008. Canada applies a reduced federal GST rate of 0% to a number of goods and services as well as specific regional rates.

13.5% of jobs in Canada are at risk of automation, around the OECD average. A higher share of jobs, 28.6%, are at risk of a significant change. While this is lower than the OECD average, it remains a large share of the Canadian workforce.

More than one in four adult are obese in Canada. As a result, Canadians live on average 3 years less due to overweight. The impact on the economy is large: overweight accounts for 10.6% of health expenditure one of the highest rates across all countries analysed. Overweight lowers labour market outputs by the equivalent of 579 thousand full time workers per year. Combined, this means that overweight reduces Canada’s GDP by 3.6%.

This country note explains how Canada taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

Key findings for Canada from the report "Pensions at a Glance 2019"

The tax-to-GDP ratio in Canada increased by 0.2 percentage points from 32.8% in 2017 to 33.0% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Canada decreased by 0.3 percentage points from 30.8 in 2018 to 30.5 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Canada had the 28th lowest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

This one-pager note presents key findings for the Netherands from Society at a Glance 2011 - OECD Social indicators. This 2011 publication also provides a special chapter on unpaid work across the OECD.

This note presents key findings for Netherlands from Society at a Glance 2014 - OECD Social indicators. This 2014 publication also provides a special chapter on: the crisis and its aftermath: a “stress test” for societies and for social policies.

The tax burden in the Netherlands increased by 0.4 percentage points from 35.9% to 36.3% in 20121. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was an increase of 0.4 percentage points from 33.3% to 33.7%. The Dutch standard VAT rate is 21%, which is above the OECD average. The average VAT/GST standard rate in the OECD was 19.1% on 1 January 2014.

Going for Growth 2015: Key findings for the Netherlands