Biographical note of Austria's Permanent Representative to the OECD.

Environmental goods and services are now a bigger driver of Austria’s economy and job market than traditionally strong sectors like tourism and construction, thanks to the government’s policy of subsidising green investments, a new OECD report shows.

Austria needs to do more to help people with mental health problems find a job or stay in the workplace, according to a new OECD report. A more comprehensive approach would help employees and firms alike: mental health issues are estimated to cost the Austrian economy around 3.6% of GDP every year in lost productivity, health care and out-of-work benefits.

The number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) remains elevated in many countries since the crisis. This country note examines the characteristics of those at risk of being NEET in Austria along with policies to help meet the challenge. It also includes many new youth-specific indicators on family formation, self-sufficiency, income and poverty, health and social cohesion.

This country fact-sheet presents key figures from "Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class". This report analyses the trends of middle-income households in areas such as employment, consumption, wealth and debt, as well as perceptions and social attitudes. It also includes recommendations for protecting middle-class living standards and financial security in the face of economic challenges.

Uruguay is ranked 101 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. The rank of Uruguay deteriorated to 101 in 2019 from 95 in 2018. Ease of Doing Business in Uruguay averaged 95.83 from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 114 in 2009 and a record low of 85 in 2012. The Ease of doing business index ranks countries against each other based on how the regulatory environment is conducive to business operationstronger protections of property rights. Economies with a high rank (1 to 20) have simpler and more friendly regulations for businesses. This page includes a chart with historical data for Ease of Doing Business in Uruguay.

Government Debt in the United Kingdom decreased to -2325 GBP Million in March from -65 GBP Million in February of 2020. Government Debt in the United Kingdom averaged -4293.61 GBP Million from 1993 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 12509 GBP Million in January of 2019 and a record low of -21052 GBP Million in April of 2012. In the United Kingdom, net borrowing or net lending is the difference between the net acquisition of financial assets and the net incurrence of liabilities. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Public Sector Net Borrowing - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

OECD countries are intensifying their fiscal consolidation efforts, introducing additional measures and extending the time horizon to implement them. Most have announced fiscal consolidation of more than 3% of GDP over the period 2009-15, according to the OECD’s Restoring Public Finances 2012.

This blog post by Adrian Blundell-Wignall builds on a working paper he published earlier this year titled "The Bitcoin Question: Currency versus Trust-less Transfer Technology".

“Why do financial institutions and investors see so little risk, while companies investing in the real economy see so much risk?” This is perhaps the most important question facing policy makers today. This paper sets out some of the possible hypotheses for lack of investment in the world economy. It uses data drawn from 10 000 global companies in 75 advanced and emerging countries.

OECD's Adrian Blundell-Wignall explains why clean energy projects are not attracting investors despite the availability of fund for investment. This paper was presented at a high-level breakfast event on institutional investors and the low-carbon transition hosted by the OECD Secretary-General during COP21 on 9 December 2015.

When I was interviewing 200 bankers and banking staff working in Europe's financial centre the City of London, perhaps the most telling was the language. Not so much the profanities– though there were many of those–nor the technical stuff and three-letter acronyms (TLAs). Most striking were terms that seemed designed to sidestep any possibility of ethical discussion.

This paper explores the relationship between policy settings and extreme positive and negative growth events, what we call GDP tail risks, using quantile regression methods.

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).

The United States’ Social Security Act of 1935 set up a social insurance programme for American workers, providing them with at least some degree of certainty about income after retirement. But, in today’s environment, to what degree do Americans feel secure about their retirement? This article looks at the results of a new survey on American’s understanding of retirement preparedness and the perceived role of Social Security.

Standard & Poor's credit rating for Andorra stands at BBB with stable outlook. Fitch's credit rating for Andorra was last reported at BBB+ with stable outlook. This page provides - Andorra Credit Rating- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Brunei is ranked 66 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. The rank of Brunei deteriorated to 66 in 2019 from 55 in 2018. Ease of Doing Business in Brunei averaged 79 from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 105 in 2014 and a record low of 55 in 2018. The Ease of doing business index ranks countries against each other based on how the regulatory environment is conducive to business operationstronger protections of property rights. Economies with a high rank (1 to 20) have simpler and more friendly regulations for businesses. This page includes a chart with historical data for Ease of Doing Business in Brunei.

Capacity Utilization in the United Kingdom decreased to 55.10 percent in the second quarter of 2020 from 79.20 percent in the first quarter of 2020. Capacity Utilization in the United Kingdom averaged 72.86 percent from 1958 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 85.20 percent in the second quarter of 1988 and a record low of 38 percent in the first quarter of 1965. Capacity utilization rate is used to measure the rate at which potential output levels are being met or used. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Capacity Utilization - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Indonesia's tax-to-GDP ratio was 11.5% in 2017, below the OECD average (34.2%) by 22.7 percentage points, and also below the LAC and Africa (21)* averages (22.8% and 18.2%, respectively).

This country note explains how Indonesia 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.

Imports from Indonesia in Turkey decreased to 95684.37 USD THO in March from 99754.61 USD THO in February of 2020. Imports from Indonesia in Turkey averaged 124623.82 USD THO from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 206809 USD THO in August of 2014 and a record low of 81455.84 USD THO in December of 2018. This page includes a chart with historical data for Turkey Imports from Indonesia.

Mortgage Approvals in the United Kingdom decreased to 56.16 Thousand in March from 73.67 Thousand in February of 2020. Mortgage Approvals in the United Kingdom averaged 83.91 Thousand from 1986 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 151.80 Thousand in May of 1988 and a record low of 26.36 Thousand in November of 2008. Mortgage approvals for house purchase refers to the firm offers of lenders to advance credit secured on specific dwellings to their customers. It covers approvals that are fully secured on residential property by a first mortgage. It includes existing borrowers transferring their existing mortgage to another property, lending to first-time purchasers and lending for buy-to-let purposes. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Mortgage Approvals - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Cyprus is ranked 54 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. The rank of Cyprus improved to 54 in 2019 from 57 in 2018. Ease of Doing Business in Cyprus averaged 46 from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 60 in 2014 and a record low of 36 in 2008. The Ease of doing business index ranks countries against each other based on how the regulatory environment is conducive to business operationstronger protections of property rights. Economies with a high rank (1 to 20) have simpler and more friendly regulations for businesses. This page includes a chart with historical data for Ease of Doing Business in Cyprus.

Austria should eliminate subsidies which encourage early retirement and target social transfers more effectively, according to the OECD’s latest economic survey.

This note is taken from Chapter 2 of Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2012.

This note is taken from Chapter 2 of Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2012.

Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the G20 area grew 0.8% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to preliminary estimates. This small pick-up in aggregate G20 GDP growth still masks diverging patterns among the world's largest economies however.

Indonesia has improved its macro-economic and structural policies over the last 15 years. Its economy, with strong and stable growth rates of 5–6.6%, is catching up with other countries in the region and allowing Indonesia to focus on its development agenda.

Micro, small and medium-sized firms (MSMEs) are a key source of employment and economic growth in Indonesia. They contributed to the country’s economic resilience during the 2008-09 financial crisis.

This study looks into the use of fixed term contracts and agency work in Russia during and shortly after the crisis 2009 10 with the help of an enterprise survey.

In this paper we examine whether past labour market reforms aiming at reducing the rate of unemployment have raised its long-run volatility.

OECD’s PISA publications highlight the impact of economic, social and cultural status (ESCS) on students’ results within countries. The focus here is to investigate whether ESCS measures could contribute to differences in aggregate educational outcomes between countries.

Under the Universal Credit reform, the main means-tested benefits except the Council Tax Benefit will be pooled into one single benefit with one single taper rate. The reform will give people better incentives to work, reduce complexity and contribute to reducing poverty.

Employment has risen by more and unemployment has risen less than expected, given the path of output. Nevertheless, long-term and youth unemployment and involuntary part-time work are high. A polarised labour market risks worsening income inequality, which is high by OECD standards, despite a recent and likely temporary decline.

France has avoided the most severe impacts of the global economic crisis and turmoil in the euro area, but must now take action to boost competitiveness and create jobs, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of France.

Using a panel of OECD countries, this study assesses the linkages between structural policies and macroeconomic stability. Business cycle and time-series characteristics of GDP and its components are employed to define various measures for economic instability and for the persistence of adverse shocks.

La OCDE acoge el plan de Chile para mejorar la metodología de cálculo de su Índice de Precios al Consumidor (IPC).

A slowdown in EMEs has larger effects on the global economy than in the past, via trade and financial cross-border linkages.

The Czech economy is finally coming out of a prolonged recession but must take further steps to speed up income convergence towards the euro area countries, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of the Czech Republic.

Growth in emerging market economies (EMEs) is set to durably slow from the rates observed over 2010-12 as cyclical effects fade, potential growth declines and external financing conditions tighten.

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.

Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD congratulated the newly elected President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, for taking a bold first step in his economic reform agenda by substantially cutting fuel subsidies.

Mr. Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General, was in London on 23-24 February to present the 2015 OECD Economic Survey of the United Kingdom, alongside Mr. George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The United Kingdom’s economy is projected to expand this year and next, but challenges remain to boost productivity and make future growth more inclusive, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey.

The Indonesian economy has enjoyed strong and stable growth over the past decade and a half, leading to impressive reductions in poverty and major improvements in living standards. But challenges remain to continue to converge towards higher-income countries, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Indonesia.

Reforming and deregulating the domestically oriented sectors, including network industries, crafts and professional services would release hidden growth potential and prove beneficial to the economy as a whole. It could also help strengthen domestic demand and reduce dependence on exports.

In Indonesia, the pressure on the environment that natural resource exploitation is creating should be addressed by increasing the share of gas and renewables in the energy mix, properly defining property rights and regulations regarding forest land, and implementing a positive implicit carbon price. More resources should be devoted to combating widespread illegal mining and deforestation.

The United Kingdom (UK) has spent less on infrastructure compared to other OECD countries over the past three decades. The perceived quality of UK infrastructure assets is close to the OECD average but lower than in other G7 countries.

The banking sector in the United Kingdom (UK) was deeply affected by the crisis. Bank credit has collapsed reflecting both weak demand and tighter supply. New prudential requirements have improved the resilience of the banking sector and a number of measures were taken to support credit supply.

Indonesia has a very good record of poverty reduction, having halved its incidence over the past two decades. Nevertheless, almost 30 million people still live below the national poverty line, mostly in rural areas and in certain provinces.