While the contribution of MSMEs to national economies is widely recognised, their financial education needs are not always being met and low levels of financial literacy pose a potential barrier to successful business creation and growth. Covering 21 economies, this stocktaking report identifies the main policy challenges and good practices.

12-13 November 2018, São Paulo, Brazil - A series of events addressing the most recent trends, opportunities and challenges in financial education will be co-hosted by the OECD and CVM Brazil.

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, will participate in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Chantilly, on 17-18 July 2019.

Government Debt in Greece increased to 356014.92 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2019 from 353850.25 EUR Million in the third quarter of 2019. Government Debt in Greece averaged 304520.13 EUR Million from 2005 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 367978 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and a record low of 215415.74 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2005. This page provides the latest reported value for - Greece Central Government Debt - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This book deals with two issues. The first concerns the various measurement of fiscal decentralization in general and their usefulness for policy analysis. The second and more specific issue concerns the taxonomy of intergovernmental grants and the limits of the current classifications.

While the outlook for many OECD countries remains subdued, Emerging Asia is set for healthy growth over the medium term. Annual GDP growth for the ASEAN -10, China and India is forecast to average 6.5% over 2015-19. Growth momentum remains robust in the 10 ASEAN countries, with economic growth averaging 5.6% over 2015-19.

This paper examines the nature and determinants of female entrepreneurship in India based on survey data. The first part assesses basic characteristics of female entrepreneurship in India, while the subsequent sections analyse key determinants of female entrepreneurship based on the literature, and test their importance at the state level in India with the support of regressions on panel-data.

New global trend such as jobless growth, a rising youth population and resource scarcity threaten to undo much of the progress of recent decades in securing people’s ability to make a living, according to a new report by the OECD Development Centre launched in Paris today at the OECD Global Forum on Development.

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.

The ECB, the Bank of Japan and five other central banks in Europe have applied negative interest rates on commercial banks’ reserves. This additional monetary policy stimulus, following large asset purchases by central banks in some of these areas, should boost the economy and thus raise inflation closer to target.

Across the OECD, GDP per capita is converging. In contrast, regional disparities – or differences in GDP per capita across jurisdictions – are rising, mainly as a result of widening productivity differences. Fiscal decentralisation could help reduce them again. According to new OECD research, assigning more ownsource revenue to sub-national governments dampens regional GDP disparities and underpins regional convergence.

The post-crisis recovery in entrepreneurial activity remains mixed across countries, but new data released today by the OECD provides tentative signs of a turning point, with trends in enterprise creation rates pointing upwards in most economies.

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

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

Making SMEs and start-ups a driver of growth and job creation requires a number of policies to improve the performance of SMEs, whose labour productivity in the manufacturing sector has fallen to less than a third of that in large companies.

This book examines regional innovation in central and southern Denmark, looking at its role in the economy, its governance and policy context and regional strategies for innovation driven growth.

Secretary-General Angel Gurría welcomes a network of senior officials attending the 31st Centres of Government (COG) meeting held in London. Highlights include the importance of institutions in economic reform through improved co-ordination, outreach and transparency.

This book deals with two issues. The first concerns the various measurement of fiscal decentralization in general and their usefulness for policy analysis. The second and more specific issue concerns the taxonomy of intergovernmental grants and the limits of the current classifications.

Governments are major issuers of debt instruments in the global financial market. This volume provides quantitative information on central government debt instruments for the 34 OECD countries.

Fiscal rules that constrain sub-central government (SCG) budgeting are very common across the OECD, but there are substantial cross-country differences in their implementation and impact. This paper presents the 2011 update of the fiscal rules database established in 2005.

This blog, written by David Satterthwaite with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), discusses what indicators are needed in order to assess the quality of life of the urban poor.

While the outlook for many OECD countries remains subdued, Emerging Asia is set for healthy growth over the medium term. Annual GDP growth for the ASEAN -10, China and India is forecast to average 6.5% over 2015-19. Growth momentum remains robust in the 10 ASEAN countries, with economic growth averaging 5.6% over 2015-19.

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.

One of the key institutions that can play a role in steering the delivery of the SDGs by highlighting trade-offs, enabling policies across issue areas to address multiple and sometimes competing objectives is the Centre of Government.

Across the OECD, GDP per capita is converging. In contrast, regional disparities – or differences in GDP per capita across jurisdictions – are rising, mainly as a result of widening productivity differences. Fiscal decentralisation could help reduce them again. According to new OECD research, assigning more ownsource revenue to sub-national governments dampens regional GDP disparities and underpins regional convergence.

The growth pattern of OECD countries and their sub-national entities is puzzling. Between-country differences in GDP per capita are declining, yet the differences across jurisdictions within those countries tend to rise.

Fiscal decentralisation can lead to a more efficient provision of local public goods and services and promote a better match between policies and citizens’ preferences.

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

The scale of the transition to a green, low-emissions and climate-resilient economy is enormous – it is the biggest structural adjustment ever proposed in the field of international governance. The OECD Centre will catalyse and support the transition to a green, low-emissions and climate-resilient global economy through the development of effective policies, institutions and instruments for green finance and investment.

La inversión pública en Colombia ha aumentado sustancialmente en los últimos años hasta alcanzar casi el 4% del PIB, una cifra superior a la media OCDE de 3.2%. Sin embargo, según indica un nuevo informe de la OCDE, para hacer frente a la brecha en infraestructuras y para superar las desigualdades territoriales será necesario que el país mantenga y amplíe sus esfuerzos en materia de inversión.

The Centres of Government meetings review issues on how to make the centre of national government work more effectively. They are held annualy by a member of the network.

On January 26th and 27th the Ministry of Regional Development of Ukraine and the OECD organised a seminar in Kiyv focusing on recent decentralisation and territorial reforms in Ukraine and in OECD countries.

This seminar was held in Mykolaiv on 5 March, 2017. Ukrainian sub-national officials, policy makers and other stakeholders shared their experience in decentralisation reform and its impact with respect to administrative capacity, investment capacity and service delivery capacity, particularly at the local level.

In 1998 Indonesia embarked on an ambitious course of decentralisation. Over a period of a few years, facilitated by financial transfers from the central government, responsibility for many public services and administrative tasks were devolved to local authorities.

This seminar series is part of the OECD project, Supporting Decentralisation in Ukraine. The 2nd seminar on Strengthening the Subnational Partnership, took place in Mykolaiv ON 15 March 2017.

In a historic visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to the OECD in Paris, the People’s Republic of China today decided to enhance longstanding collaboration with the OECD and to join the OECD Development Centre.

In conflict or high-risk areas, the exploitation of natural mineral resources companies involved in mining and trade in minerals have the potential to generate income, growth and prosperity, but may also be at risk of directly or indirectly fuelling armed conflict, gross violations of human rights, and impeding economic and social development.

Fifty years ago, the world watched in awe as the first humans landed on the moon. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping us to build on this achievement, by giving us the power to map the moon, to locate and count craters, and even (virtually) to moonwalk!

Exports (Fob): Primary Prds - Iron Ore & Concentrates in Brazil decreased to 105 USD Million in April from 1390.27 USD Million in March of 2020. Exports (Fob): Primary Prds - Iron Ore & Concentra in Brazil averaged 624.63 USD Million from 1970 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 4469.09 USD Million in August of 2011 and a record low of 11.79 USD Million in January of 1970. This page includes a chart with historical data for Brazil Exports of : Primary Prds - Iron Ore & Conce.

Loans To Private Sector in Central African Republic increased to 120.10 XOF Billion in July from 112.50 XOF Billion in June of 2014. Loans To Private Sector in Central African Republic averaged 84.86 XOF Billion from 2005 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 142.20 XOF Billion in January of 2013 and a record low of 49.30 XOF Billion in May of 2005. Loans To Private Sector in Central African Republic is reported by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). This page provides - Central African Republic Loans To Private Sector - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Government Debt in Lithuania decreased to 15792.20 EUR Million in March from 16011.90 EUR Million in February of 2020. Government Debt in Lithuania averaged 9851.10 EUR Million from 2003 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 17304 EUR Million in January of 2020 and a record low of 3249.10 EUR Million in February of 2004. This page provides the latest reported value for - Lithuania Central Government Debt - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Turkey recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 2.90 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2019. Government Budget in Turkey averaged -4.71 percent of GDP from 2001 until 2019, reaching an all time high of -0.60 percent of GDP in 2006 and a record low of -33 percent of GDP in 2001. Government Budget is an itemized accounting of the payments received by government (taxes and other fees) and the payments made by government (purchases and transfer payments). A budget deficit occurs when an government spends more money than it takes in. The opposite of a budget deficit is a budget surplus. This page provides the latest reported value for - Turkey Government Budget - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

External Debt in Slovenia increased to 45401 EUR Million in the first quarter of 2020 from 44987.30 EUR Million in the first quarter of 2020. External Debt in Slovenia averaged 14708.21 EUR Million from 1997 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 45401 EUR Million in the first quarter of 2020 and a record low of 1059 EUR Million in the third quarter of 2012. In Slovenia, external debt is a part of the total debt that is owed to creditors outside the country. This page provides - Slovenia External Debt - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

External Debt in Burundi increased to 941851.38 BIF Million in December from 936300.82 BIF Million in November of 2019. External Debt in Burundi averaged 920078.98 BIF Million from 2005 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 1651802 BIF Million in November of 2009 and a record low of 413843 BIF Million in January of 2011. This page provides - Burundi External Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Finland recorded a government budget deficit of 815.10 EUR Million in December of 2019. Government Budget Value in Finland averaged -159.08 EUR Million from 1998 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 2319.20 EUR Million in June of 2005 and a record low of -3833.40 EUR Million in January of 2010. The government budget balance is the difference between government revenues and expenses. The budget is balanced when outlays equal to receipts, the country reports budget surplus when revenues are higher than expenses and deficit when expenses exceed the revenues. This page provides - Finland Government Budget Value - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Government Debt in Finland decreased to 106368 EUR Million in December from 106812 EUR Million in November of 2019. Government Debt in Finland averaged 75166.94 EUR Million from 1999 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 109504 EUR Million in June of 2019 and a record low of 48415 EUR Million in September of 2008. This page provides the latest reported value for - Finland Central Government Debt - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Government Debt in Norway decreased to 510625 NOK Million in the fourth quarter of 2019 from 593957 NOK Million in the third quarter of 2019. Government Debt in Norway averaged 350228.41 NOK Million from 1965 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 734596 NOK Million in the first quarter of 2013 and a record low of 8631 NOK Million in the fourth quarter of 1965. This page provides - Norway Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Government Debt in Pakistan increased to 33421.10 PKR Billion in February from 32997 PKR Billion in January of 2020. Government Debt in Pakistan averaged 18567.57 PKR Billion from 2011 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 33421.10 PKR Billion in February of 2020 and a record low of 9266.90 PKR Billion in January of 2011. This page provides - Pakistan Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

External Debt in Kenya decreased to 3106.82 KES Billion in December from 3114.96 KES Billion in November of 2019. External Debt in Kenya averaged 966.53 KES Billion from 2000 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 3160.06 KES Billion in July of 2019 and a record low of 361.73 KES Billion in May of 2003. In Kenya, external debt is a part of the total debt that is owed to creditors outside the country. This page provides - Kenya External Debt - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

India recorded a government budget deficit of 10364.85 INR Billion in February of 2020. Government Budget Value in India averaged -2316.82 INR Billion from 1997 until 2020, reaching an all time high of -94.06 INR Billion in April of 1997 and a record low of -10364.85 INR Billion in February of 2020. The government budget balance is the difference between government revenues and expenses. The budget is balanced when outlays equal to receipts, the country reports budget surplus when revenues are higher than expenses and deficit when expenses exceed the revenues. In India, government budget value refers to the cumulative amount of the central government fiscal deficit for current fiscal year. This page provides the latest reported value for - India Government Budget Value - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.