OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011 by Loic Verdier

Governments and markets: Time to get serious Bank crisis: Funding the gap Microcredit’s big future No 284 Q1 2011

www.oecdobserver.org

Africa’s tax system Greening the OECD Ireland’s economy Special focus: Canada and the OECD

Beyond GDP Your Better Life Index

Competitive Growth for Quality Job

Policies Solutions and Strategies for Promoting Development and Employment

July 4, 2011 Palazzo Barberini in Rome How are different countries responding to the challenge of unemployment?How is employment changing? What are the expertise and skills that young people need in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labor market? How are educational systems addressing the challenges we confront? What role do private and social organizations play in fostering change? This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s East Forum, organised by UniCredit in partnership with OECD, will address these and other issues with the participation of high level international experts. For further information on the official program, guests, key topics and registration visit our web site

www.eastforum.it - www.eastforum.eu

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CONTENTS No 284 Q1 2011

READERS’ VIEWS

GOVERNANCE

Pension reform flaws; Doctor, doctor…doctor; Renewable promise?; Innovative thinking

EDITORIAL 3

Building our future together Angel Gurría

NEWS BRIEF 4

Child poverty warning; Economy; Soundbites; Slower development aid?; Japan rebuilds; Tax burden on the rise; Estonia joins the OECD; Shinier steel outlook; Cities under-served by carbon markets; Brazil and India sign OECD chemical accord; Corruption: governments wanted; Plus ça change…

BEYOND GDP 7

Better measures for better lives

ECONOMY 11 12 15 16

Ireland: Confident of a return to force Michael Noonan, Minister of Finance, Ireland Banking on a crisis and on its resolution Sebastian Schich Bank crisis: Why private creditors should share the burden Interview with Mohamed El-Erian, PIMCO Israel’s economic strategy Interview with Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Finance, Israel

Governments and markets: Time to get serious Rolf Alter

OECD.ORG 33 34 35 36

Greening the OECD Peter Lübkert Japan will bounce back quickly Angel Gurría The OECD is a “force for good” David Cameron, British Prime Minister Recent speeches by Angel Gurría Calendar; Frankie.org

Banking crisis: Sharing the burden, page 15

Special focus 37-64 Special focus Canada and the OECD: 50 years of progess

BOOKS 65 66 70

Green house? New publications on OECD iLibrary Trade for aid ORDER FORM…ORDER FORM

DATABANK 73 74 76

Child poverty rises–; –but could addressing nonpaid work provide answers? Main economic indicators Development aid to slow; Renewable electricity bills

VAT’s next half century, page 20

TAX 20 23

VAT’s next half century: Towards a single-rate system? Jeffrey Owens, Piet Battiau and Alain Charlet Africa’s tax system: A survey Alan Carter and Ana Cebreiro

DEVELOPMENT 26 28 29

Development: New world, new economics Interview with Justin Yifu Lin, World Bank Chief Economist Microcredit, big future Interview with Jacques Attali, founder of PlaNet Finance Cooking lesson

www.oecdobserver.org © OECD 2010 www.oecdobserver.org © OECD 2011 Subscription rate: €69 – US$90 – £47 – ¥9 700 ISSN ISSN 0029-7054 0029-7054 Tel.: +33 +33 (0) (0) 11 45 45 24 24 80 80 66 66 Tel.: Fax: +33 +33 (0) (0) 11 45 45 24 24 82 82 10 10 Fax: sales@oecd.org sales@oecd.org Founded in in 1962 1962 The The magazine magazine of of the the Organisation Organisation for for Founded Economic Economic Co-operation Co-operation and and Development Development

Development lesson, page 29

Your Better Life Index page 7

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OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Readers’ views Renewable promise?

We welcome your feedback. Send your letters to observer@oecd.org or post your comments at www.oecdobserver.org or www.oecdinsights.org Pension reform flaws Everybody agrees that the pension rules have to be changed. It’s obvious that the current rules won’t allow the payment of pensions in 10 or 15 years from now. But here capitalism is in question. It is the first time in French history that social security is being decreased, and this proves that the current economic system has failed. As the communist system failed in the USSR, capitalism is failing in the West. Globally, it is failing because poverty is increasing all over the world, social security is decreasing, with more and more jobless, and more and more homeless all over the US and Europe. The second point is the way the French government has made the change. This reform has some deficiencies:

working to take care of their children, so they rarely ever accumulate their 42 years of contribution. 4. This reform is unfair for blue collar workers. Some workers (such as masons) have exhausting jobs and may die younger, and get less pension than other workers. The fixed age should not be the same for industrial jobs as for office jobs. 5. The actual structure of employment does not allow youth employment to be raised, nor old workers to be retired later. Jobless people are often young people under 25 and older people over 55; it is widely assumed that old people are less efficient and cost more, while young people have no experience. Jing & Fatemeh

1. Raising taxes and social contributions would have a positive effect if a new contribution on capital and financial transaction could be applied. 2. Virtually no one favours cuts and reduction of pensions. But in fact, the reform indirectly does this, by restricting access to full pensions for more workers. To extend working lives, the reform takes two approaches simultaneously, first increasing the contribution duration which allows retirement with full pension (37.5 to 42 years) and then applying a fixed age for workers to retire (60 to 65 and 60 to 67 to be retired without penalties). The longer the duration period of contribution, the less people can retire with their full pension. This reform also directly puts emphasis on extending working lives while indirectly cutting pensions. 3. This reform is unfair for women. Women with children usually stop 2

Doctor, doctor…doctor You claim that an increased supply of doctors in the US would cause increased competition and increased supply, and lower medical care prices. But there are studies that demonstrate that, in areas where there is a large number of doctors, there is a large number of unnecessary medical procedures and medical services. This problem must also be dealt with. With this proposal, we could end up with the worst of both worlds: an even greater excess of doctors performing an even greater excess of unnecessary medical services–with no net increase in actual patient health. Maybe we already have too many doctors. Maybe what we need is an improved reimbursement scheme. Al

Portugal and Spain are leaders in subsidising so-called renewables like wind and solar. This has helped both countries economies to tank, as high energy prices make them less competitive. A King Carlos University study showed that, in Spain, each renewable job created cost more than two jobs elsewhere in the economy. Rolf Westgard

Innovative thinking There is good innovation, meaningless innovation and dangerous innovation. How about that harmless practice of “financial innovation”? My fear is that as long as policymakers believe innovation only means “cool new products” or slick new apps for the tablet which can tell you the time of day in 12 languages, we may miss the big picture of what innovation really means. True innovation drives fundamental changes in the way society lives. For example, harnessing the energy of fire changed the way we produce, distribute and consume goods while addressing a number of practical challenges. We all benefited through improved living standards as a result. Concentrating billions of dollars of investment capital on social buying sites like Groupon will not get us to the promised land. Baye Kambui

Replies to these comments can be made at the above website, www.oecdobserver.org or http://twitter.com/OECDObserver

EDITORIAL

Building our future together As well as “going structural” to unblock growth, policymakers must “go social” Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD

We are celebrating the OECD’s 50th anniversary during the tail-end of the worst financial and economic crisis of our lifetimes. It’s a good moment to take stock and to ask the right questions. Why couldn’t we avoid the crisis? Were the policies and the policy mix we promoted the right ones, and how can we adjust these polices to new realities? What is more, are we doing enough to prevent another crisis? Are our economic theories, our models and our assumptions still appropriate? How should our organisation’s work be adapted so that we continue fulfilling our founding mission of promoting better policies for better lives? We must draw every lesson we can from the crisis. What is clear is that a return to “business as usual” growth will not be enough to resolve the problems we face. They go from massive unemployment, particularly among younger people, widening inequalities and parlous public finances, high food and commodities prices on the one hand, to pressing global issues such as climate change, poverty, and food, water and energy security on the other. The economic model we must champion has to address these issues. It must incorporate the environment, equal opportunities and redistribution, as well as the effects of trade, investment and migration. Above all, our models must have people’s well-being as their top priority. The crisis compels us to challenge conventional wisdom, including our own, and be bolder in advancing new thinking and approaches for addressing global problems. The OECD has not sat back. For instance, our institution can claim credit for having drawn policymakers’ attention to the issue of inequality and for designing economic tools for managing the environment. Our organisation is also leading the search for policy responses to demographic and migratory challenges. These are just some examples, and by building on such strengths, we can find solutions to many of today’s wide-ranging challenges. Growth remains key, though searching for new sources of growth that are greener, more equitable and more “gender friendly” is our common objective. Inclusive and green growth should therefore permeate our thinking. Consider job creation, for instance. The OECD is determined to step up its much-valued work on employment, education, skills and social policies, and build on its traditionally strong collaboration with labour, business and civil society. Our concern is to create decent jobs, foster equal opportunities and combat social exclusion. Our focus must be on what I call the five E’s: Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship, Equality and the Environment.

As well as “going structural” to unblock growth, policymakers must “go social”; our future well-being depends on combining action on both these fronts, from active labour market and equity policies targeting the most vulnerable, through investment in skills and lifelong learning, to family and gender policies, and measures to bolster intergenerational solidarity and secure our children’s future. We must place even more emphasis on working with our social partners as we strive to reach these joint goals. Another strategic priority is development. This is what the “D” in OECD means: indeed, the OECD story is one of promoting policies for development. We must continue to share our knowledge, analysis and advice with our partners in emerging economies and developing countries, not least in view of meeting the Millennium Development Goals. But as global wealth and power are shifting, we must also make a greater effort to listen to these countries and to benefit from their experiences. At our 50th Anniversary Ministerial Council Meeting, we will propose to elaborate a broader OECD strategy for development with emerging economies, and to work with each other on an equal footing and in a more structured way, while adopting a mediumto long-term perspective. Moreover, we must work more closely with other partners in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa and Southeast Europe, and, particularly in light of current events, with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa. In this region, we should focus our efforts on an agenda for growth, but also for inclusiveness, investment, governance, employment, equality and gender, to make a real contribution to the transition. Facing the future together demands having to work more coherently with other international organisations, while providing support for the G8 and G20. Better connectivity and more crossfertilisation among countries and organisations would have served us well before the crisis, but has become vital now. By strengthening our partnerships and networks, we can reinvigorate multilateralism and make global policymaking more effective. However, the test of that effectiveness goes beyond growth to people’s welfare. How can that be measured? To find answers, we are launching the Better Life Index during our 50th Anniversary OECD Week. This unique instrument will enable ordinary people to assess their well-being according to their own preferences. Governments and citizens can then learn from this data and analysis to shape policies and get better results. The Better Life Initiative will empower everyone who cares about building a stronger, cleaner and fairer world. ”Better Policies for Better Lives” is much more than a birthday wish. It expresses the OECD’s unflinching determination to work on behalf of people’s welfare everywhere. See also www.oecdobserver.org/angelgurria and www.oecd.org/secretarygeneral

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

News brief Child poverty warning

See Databank, page 73 and visit www.oecd.org/els

Economy

Meanwhile, GDP in the OECD area grew by 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2010, down from the 0.6% growth recorded in the previous quarter. It contracted by 0.3% in Japan and by 0.5% in the UK, and had slowed

Consumer prices rise % change, March, year-on-year

5.0 4.0 3.2 2.7 2.0 1.0 0.0

All items Food Energy Source: OECD

“Some of it (the food and energy price rise) of course is supply and demand related but I think there’s another element to it […]. The world’s financial monetary authorities, particularly in the US, but also in the UK, have added enormous amounts of liquidity in the past couple of years through quantitative easing [...]. So I think you can quite clearly say that the Federal Reserve and to a lesser extent the Bank of England have actually partly fuelled this commodity price boom.”

Consumer price inflation in the OECD area reached 2.7% in the year to March 2011, up from 2.4% in February. It was driven by an acceleration in energy prices to 12.4% in March, up from 10.2% in February. Food prices rose by 3.2% in March. Excluding food and energy, consumer prices rose by 1.4 % in March 2011, the highest rate in a year. The unemployment rate of 8.2% in March 2011 in the OECD area was unchanged from February, following three consecutive monthly decreases. Indeed, for the first time since 2007, unemployment is showing a steady or declining pattern in most OECD countries. Unit labour costs in the euro area rose by 0.2% in the third quarter of 2010 (quarter-onquarter, seasonally adjusted), slightly up from the 0.1% rate seen in the second quarter.

12.4

3.0

Commodity price speculation

in Germany to 0.4% from 0.7% . In the US growth accelerated to 0.8% from 0.6%.

The OECD’s latest leading indicators point to mixed trends ahead for major economies. The indicators, which include order books, building permits and long-term interest rates, edged up by 0.2 points for the OECD area, though with a possible easing in expansion ahead in the EU.

6.0

Soundbites

©REUTERS/Jas Lehal

Poverty in households with children is rising in nearly all OECD countries, a recent report reveals. The share of children living in poor households has risen over the past decade, to reach 12.7% across the OECD. One in five children in Israel, Mexico, Turkey, the US and Poland live in poverty. Doing Better for Families, the OECD’s first-ever report on family well-being, says that families with children are more likely to be poor today than in previous decades. Governments should ensure that family support policies protect the most vulnerable, the authors argue.

1.4

All Items non-food non-energy

Merchandise trade growth quickened in the final quarter of 2010 in most major economies, with record trade figures in China. Total exports of G7 and BRICS countries grew by 8% in the fourth quarter compared to 1% in the previous quarter, and total imports grew by 7% compared to 1%. See www.oecd.org/statistics

Richard Jeffrey, Chief Investment Officer of Casanove Capital Management, BBC Today radio programme, 6.22 am, 11 May 2011

Old Europe? “Le retour des frontières en Europe divise l’Union. (The return of borders in Europe is dividing the Union.)” Front page headline of Le Monde, 6 May 2011

Economic choice In economics, the academic realm ought to be the home of pluralist discourse but the growth of peer review and journal publication has undermined this. University economists, of the sort gathered at Bretton Woods, are now under relentless pressure to conform to a narrow, established paradigm. John Kay, Financial Times, 15 April 2011

Slower development aid? Development aid from OECD donor countries totalled $129 billion in 2010, the highest level ever, and an increase of 6.5% over 2009. But with some donors not meeting agreed commitments, aid could rise at a slower pace. See Databank for more, and www.oecd.org/dac

NEWS

©REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Japan rebuilds

The 11 March earthquake and tsunami were Japan’s strongest ever recorded and its worst disaster in half a century. Addressing reconstruction and humanitarian needs is a priority, the latest OECD Economic Survey issued in April says. This inevitably creates the need for short-term increases in public spending, though as the report notes, the fiscal situation has reached a critical point. While it is still too early to assess the full extent of the damage, the report says the immediate impact will be to reduce output, although this will later be reversed by reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, the OECD will be working closely with the Japanese authorities to assist where possible.

Tax burden on the rise

Estonia joins the OECD

Income tax hikes and social security increases since the start of the crisis are putting pressure on take-home pay in some OECD countries, though some governments are cutting taxes, according to the OECD’s latest Taxing Wages report. The annual report shows that tax burdens rose in 22 of the 34 OECD countries in 2010. The Netherlands, Spain and Iceland were among the countries with increases, while Denmark, Greece, Germany and Hungary were among those showing the biggest drops.

Estonia became the OECD’s 34th member country on 9 December 2010.

Visit www.oecd.org/japan

Comparing the total cost to an employer of hiring someone to that person’s net take-home pay, including child and other family benefits, the report says that this tax wedge was highest in France (42.1% of labour costs), Belgium (39.6%) and Italy (37.2%) for one-earner married couples with two children earning the average wage, and smallest in New Zealand (-1.1%, meaning that net take-home pay is higher than costs to the employer), Chile (6.2%) and Switzerland (8.3%). The average OECD tax wedge was 24.8%.

Brazil and India sign OECD chemical accord

Corruption: governments warned

Brazil and India have joined an OECD chemical testing agreement that allows countries to share and accept each other’s results, saving money for governments and industry, and reducing the risk of trade disputes. The OECD system for the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) in the Assessment of Chemicals ensures that the results of non-clinical safety tests done on chemicals and chemical products, such as industrial chemicals and pesticides, are accepted in all participating countries. OECD research has shown that this multilateral agreement saves governments and chemical producers around €150 million annually. Brazil joined MAD on 9 May, with India signing up on 6 April.

Most governments are not meeting their international commitments to clamp down on bribery and corruption in international business, with only five signatories to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention having sanctioned individuals or companies in the past year, according to an OECD report released in April. Five of the 38 nations that are signatories to the convention imposed penalties on individuals or firms in 2010, and the organisation wants to see more enforcement and compliance with the landmark treaty.

See remarks by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, page 34.

See www.oecd.org/corruption

See www.oecd.org/estonia

Shinier steel outlook The outlook for the global steel industry is promising, with global demand forecast to increase by an annual 6% in both 2011 and 2012, the OECD’s Steel Committee said on 13 May 2011, but warned of rises in raw material prices, high oil prices and sluggish growth in the OECD area. See www.oecd.org/sti/steel

Cities under-served by carbon markets Cities should be better served by the current carbon markets in the fight against climate change, a new report says. Cities use two-thirds of world energy and produce two-thirds of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Search Cities and Carbon Market Finance at “What’s New”, 19 April at www.oecd.org/environment

Plus ça change... “When it is a question of the development of society, it is not enough for a few experts to be familiar with all the aspects of certain problems and ‘know-how’.[…] In publishing the OECD Observer, a step is being taken towards a wider dissemination of this knowledge.” Extract from the first editorial introducing the OECD Observer by Thorkil Kristensen, SecretaryGeneral of the OECD, issue No 1, November 1962.

See www.oecd.org/environment

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Introducing the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. ®

™

Multitasking Speed-freaking Web-rocking Ultra-portable

blackberry.com/playbook ©2011 Research In Motion Limited. Tous droits réservés. BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion®, SureType®, SurePress™, ainsi que les marques commerciales, noms et logos associés, sont la propriété de

6 Research In Motion Limited et sont déposés et/ou utilisés aux États-Unis et dans d’autres pays du monde. Facebook est une marque déposée de Facebook, Inc. Toutes les autres marques commerciales appartiennent à leurs propriétaires respectifs.

BEYOND GDP

Better measures for better lives The OECD, a pioneer in the quest to measure the progress and well-being of societies, is launching an exciting new initiative, incorporating Your Better Life Index. The initiative is not only a major step forward in assessing peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true welfare, but involves people in the process too. Your economy grew by 2% last year. So are you 2% happier or better off? Take national income per head or GDP per capita, which have been the standard measures of a countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic progress for decades. Now, imagine a politician tells you that the GDP per capita in your country has leapt from $20,000 per head to $25,000 in three years. Has your income risen by that amount? And even it has, has your lifestyle improved, your environment become cleaner, or your country more honest than before? And anyway, how would you be able to tell for sure? Nowadays, more and more people, including governments and economists, are becoming frustrated with the shortfalls of GDP as an indicator of the true wellbeing of individual people and society more widely. Indeed, several countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and the UK, are now going beyond GDP and launching national initiatives on measuring progress. All share a common goal of trying to measure, and evaluate how countries are performing beyond mere increases in the value or volume of output and spending. Indicators and data that attempt to go beyond income and profit are already quite common in business. NGOs such as the Global Reporting Initiative produce sustainability reporting for company accounting as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR), for instance, and some stock market indices now reward good CSR performance. But such attempts have been fewer at economy level. Ever since the OECD started out in 1961, GDP has been the yardstick

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

by which it has measured and understood economic and social progress. But it has failed to capture many of the factors that influence people’s lives, such as security, leisure, income distribution and a clean environment. These are the kinds of factors which growth itself needs to be sustainable, which is why the question of what constitutes well-being and how to measure it is such a rich and vital debate of our time. The OECD, already known for its leading indicators, PISA education surveys and several other influential initiatives, has been leading international reflection on measuring the progress of societies for nearly 10 years. Lately, it has been an important contributor to the work of the Stigliz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission on the measurement of economic performance and social progress, a French government initiative created at the beginning of 2008. As Joseph Stiglitz recently wrote in these pages, the OECD’s input proved very timely 8

in today’s economic downturn, and with other challenges, such as climate change and global inequality, models and ideas are understandably being questioned (see references). Now, in its 50th anniversary year, the OECD is ready to unveil the first fruits of that hard work, the OECD Better Life Initiative, due to be launched during the 50th Anniversary Week. It will be the first instalment in a quite unprecedented broadbased international attempt to present comparative evidence on progress, leaning on two pillars: material living conditions and quality of life. Income and wealth count, but so do housing conditions. Quality of life considers aspects such as education, health, work-life balance, civic engagement and overall life satisfaction. Natural capital, physical capital, social capital and human capital will be considered as part of a future third pillar, sustainability. As a central element of this initiative, the OECD is launching an index that will enable ordinary people to assess their well-being

according to their own preferences: Your Better Life Index. The index is a new way of empowering and educating everyone who cares about building a stronger, cleaner and fairer world. This includes governments, who can then learn from this data to shape policies and get better results. The Better Life Index web tool is simple and in many ways fun to use, even for those with no background in data or economics, in large part because it presents indicators in an attractive way that is easy to interpret. At the time of launching, there were 11 dimensions for users to take on board: housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, governance, life satisfaction, safety and work-life balance. More factors will be added on as the index is developed. Each country is represented by a flower, where the size of each one of the 11 petals illustrates the country’s performance on a particular dimension, such as green for the environment, brown for safety, and so on.

BEYOND GDP

The length of the stem changes with the country’s overall performance, so the taller the flower, the better the country is doing. The length of the petals represents the country’s score. The OECD has not assigned weights to any of the dimensions: the user can choose to start with all the 11 dimensions weighted equally or to set their own preferences from the beginning. This neutrality means that the OECD selects the factors, but leaves the job of judging which ones count more than others to the public. People do this by using a control panel to fine-tune the weights in line with what matters to them. This way, the Better Life Index allows users to measure and compare the quality of life across OECD countries–major emerging economies will soon follow suit–and to

A new way of empowering and educating everyone who cares about building a stronger, cleaner and fairer world build and customise their own indices. By assigning their own weights to each of the 11 dimensions, they will be able to see how the emphasis they place on any particular factor affects the relative position of each country. Increase the weighting you wish to give to, say, the environment, and the length of the “stems” will adjust to reflect how other countries perform on the environment, while the width of the green petals will grow in size too. This creates a simple basis for making your country comparisons. A closer look at the environment dimension helps to understand how the index works. Every dimension is made up of one to three indicators: the green petal denoting the environment reflects one for now: levels of air pollution in residential areas of cities with populations

greater than 100,000. On a scale from 0 to 5, if you want to assign the greatest weight of 5 to environmental quality while keeping, say, governance, safety and all the other dimensions at 1, you’ll find a list of countries topping your list. In this instance, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand or Canada capture most closely how you would define well-being. If you’re more concerned about income and wealth, and adjust the weights accordingly, you may find you have more affinity with Luxembourg or the US. These very personal assessments can then be saved and the results shared via email, Twitter or Facebook. The OECD experts, while respecting privacy norms, will be able to see the wider patterns of preferences among users and see how they vary by nationality, age and other criteria. This data will then be made available to shape ongoing work on measuring progress and help countries to understand the kinds of policies that promote well-being. Indeed, the Better Life Initiative is firmly grounded in an important, long-term OECD project called How’s Life? Beyond OECD Week, this project will continue with a major new book in September. Also called How’s Life?, the book will focus on the living conditions of households and people, rather than the economy as a whole. It will ask whether employees are working particularly long hours, and how much time people devote to leisure activities and personal care, or to what extent mothers of young children participate in the workforce, and the effects this has on their well-being. It will even consider how much people socialise, whether they tend to vote, and how much confidence they have in their countries’ institutions.

users provide continuous feedback. Also, while the Better Life Index incorporates household disposable income and wealth, consideration of how those are distributed in the country has yet to be included. GPD has its limitations as a measure of well-being, but it will undoubtedly remain a key measure of economic growth, not least because governments, markets and ordinary people are used to it. In any case, the OECD Better Life Initiative is designed to complement GDP-based indicators rather than replace them, by providing a human angle on how policies affect societies at large. Hopefully soon, countries, and the people who live in them, will have a better view of how they’re really doing. Create your Better Life Index on www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org References For more on the Better Life Initiative and the OECD work on measuring progress and well-being, see www.oecd.org/progress Stiglitz, Joseph (2009), “Progress, what progress?” in OECD Observer No 272 March.

How’s Life? and the Better Life Index are, by definition, works in progress. New dimensions will be added, particularly as the sustainability pillar is built, emerging economies are added and

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

www.groupecaissedesdepots.fr

Caisse des Dépôts group “serving the public interest and France’s economic development”

A public financial institution > A long-term institutional investor > Regional developer alongside local authorities > Investor of funds held in regulated savings accounts on a secure basis in social housing, urban development and public interest projects > Public banker of the Justice and Social Security system > Pension scheme manager Subsidiaries > Business and infrastructure financing: Strategic Investment Fund, CDC Entreprises, Qualium Investissement, CDC Infrastructure > Personal insurance: CNP Assurances > Real estate: SNI group, Icade > Services: Transdev, Egis, Compagnie des Alpes and Belambra > Environment: CDC Climat, Société Forestière and CDC Biodiversité In all its businesses, Caisse des Dépôts group uses its capacity to innovate and take long term action to promote sustainable development. In its Elan 2020 strategic plan, the Caisse des Dépôts group has set itself four priorities, to meet France’s urgent needs: housing, SMEs, universities and sustainable development.

Caisse des dépôts et consignations 56, rue de Lille 75356 Paris 07 SP France +33 (0)1 58 50 00 00 Direction of European and International Affairs +33 (0)1 58 50 11 78

April 2011

The group is also strengthening its international presence by playing a role in the European debate, promoting cooperation between long term investors, and continuing its strategy in the Mediterranean region.

ECONOMY

Ireland: Confident of a return to force 2014 onwards, helping to ensure that public debt moves onto a declining path by the mid-part of this decade.

©Government of Ireland

The government is also committed to implementing additional structural reforms to boost the productive capacity of the economy, enhance labour market prospects and further ensure that the public finances and our overall debt burden remain on a sustainable path.

Michael Noonan, Minister of Finance, Ireland

A floor has now been placed under the banking crisis, albeit at a very high cost to the public purse. The bursting of the property bubble has had substantial implications for the Irish economy. Living standards have fallen back to 2004 levels, while transitory tax revenues–which had been used to finance increases in public expenditure–effectively dried up. In addition, Ireland has had to cope with the collapse of our domestic banking system, resulting in exposure to very large losses. Notwithstanding the fact that Ireland has been tackling the impacts of the changed budgetary situation since mid-2008, market sentiment towards Ireland deteriorated in the autumn of 2010, on foot of rising public debt amid large annual deficits and public support for the banking system. Access to markets was effectively closed, necessitating financial support from our EU partners and the International Monetary Fund. A new government took office in March of this year with a very strong mandate from the Irish people. The government is committed to reducing the fiscal deficit below 3% of GDP by 2015, in line with our European requirements. Moreover, we envisage running primary surpluses from

Through its policy measures, such as its Jobs Initiative, the government is implementing various reforms to address the deterioration in the labour market; crucially, this will be achieved in a fiscallyneutral manner, and will help boost confidence and reduce precautionary savings. A key focus of government policy is repairing the banking sector so that it is in a position to provide the credit necessary to support recovery. In broad terms, the approach is to recapitalise, restructure

Growth is expected to expand once again this year–the first time since 2007 and deleverage viable institutions, and to facilitate the orderly winding down of unviable institutions. The recent Prudential Capital and Liquidity Assessment Reviews conducted by the Central Bank of Ireland have been well received by market participants, and there is a consensus that a floor has now been placed under the banking crisis, albeit at a very high cost to the public purse. The recent macroeconomic data flow has been relatively encouraging, and GDP is expected to expand once again this year–the first time since 2007. While further fiscal consolidation and private sector balance-sheet repair will continue to restrain domestic demand, the exporting sectors continue to perform very well. This rebalancing reflects the significant

improvements in cost competitiveness evident in recent years. This has resulted in the current account of the balance of payments moving into surplus, which is a key positive indicator in terms of overall medium-term prospects for the Irish economy. The external funding programme has provided us with the breathing space to implement appropriate financial, fiscal and structural policies. The recent quarterly review concluded that policy implementation has been strong and that the targets have been met. As our policies pay dividends in the months and years ahead, we are confident of a return to market-based funding for both the sovereign and the banking sector by the end of the programme period in 2013. References OECD (2009), Economic Surveys: Ireland (next survey due late 2011) OECD (2010), Better Regulation in Europe: Ireland OECD (2010), Environmental Performance Review: Ireland 2010 Visit www.finance.gov.ie For the views of other finance ministers from the OECD and partner countries on the economic challenges in 2011, see page 16 and our finance ministers’ roundtable in the inaugural edition of the OECD Yearbook 2011, now available online at www.oecdobserver.org/yearbook2011

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OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Banking on a crisis and on its resolution Sebastian Schich, OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs

©REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

Public authorities could be better prepared beforehand too, say, by storing up money in the kitty as a buffer, if not to prevent the crisis, then at least to reduce the size of the bill associated with resolving it. The effective funding of systemic crisis resolution will remain an issue, even if considerable progress is achieved in reducing systemic risks. This crisis has highlighted the existence of very wide ex-ante funding gaps in this regard.

The recent financial crisis has left a hole in the public finances of many countries. Yet, with the right preparation, governments may have been better placed to fund that gap. This holds lessons for future crisis resolution strategies. The worst crisis of our lifetimes should never be allowed to happen again. How often has this refrain been heard since Lehman Brothers crashed in 2008, taking much of the global financial sector with it? Governments dug deep to save financial markets–“the lifeblood of our economic systems” as some put it–as taxpayers and savers looked on in disbelief: how could we have let it go so far? Many people have tried to answer this question, and the debate is a passionate and divisive one. What no one disagrees on is that the crisis has been costly. In 2010 the IMF estimated the fiscal costs of direct support, net of recovered amounts, at some 2.8% of GDP for the advanced G20 countries. But these costs probably underestimate the total impact, which will be reflected in much higher debt: OECD public debt is now over 100% of GDP, compared with over 70% in

In fact, the entire response was based on reacting after the horse had bolted. These ex-post responses, while to some extent inevitable in any crisis, are ad hoc and costly.

2007. Also, there have been major losses in jobs and output. While it is too early to assess the full cost of the latest crisis, as history shows, financial crises are a recurrent event. So it is likely they will happen again. To be sure, new and improved rules will be introduced, and will

Without advanced action, countries will go forward unprepared until the next, possibly worse, crisis strikes hopefully limit the frequency and severity of future crises, but such is the nature of our system that occasional breakdowns will occur. There could, for instance, be overleveraging again, as borrowers get in over their heads, or as lenders, awash with cash, relax the rules in a bid to get their money working again. Beyond the swings and roundabouts of financial markets, there is another clear lesson, which is that governments should be far better prepared financially for crises than they appeared to be in 2008. Far too many of them were caught napping, in terms of assessing the gravity of their own situations and in responding to the problem at hand.

More extensive use of ex-ante rather than ex-post funding for crisis resolution strategies would be complementary to current efforts to oblige banks to build up larger buffers of capital during good times, as a defence against future market shocks. Good fiscal policies should also reflect ex-ante principles. True, several OECD countries did not start into the crisis from positions of strength, with wide fiscal deficits and public debt reaching or exceeding 100% of their gross domestic product. Those imbalances worsened in the crisis. But some governments started out in far better positions than that. Take Ireland. In 2007 its general government finances were in surplus to the tune of nearly 3% of GDP in 2006, while its overall government debt was below 30% of GDP. Its unemployment rate was one of the OECD’s lowest too. On the face of it, the country looked prepared. But when the crisis began to bite, even Ireland found that it could do little other than to provide a blanket guarantee for creditors and depositors. This had the effect of shifting bank sector risks and associated losses on to sovereign balance sheets. Addressing current fiscal challenges and gaps is not enough, however. For unless advanced action is taken to set money aside for the future, a systemic funding gap will embed

ECONOMY

itself into the system. That means countries will go forward again underprepared until the next, possibly worse, crisis strikes. Moreover, given the causes of the crisis, the financial sector should play a fuller part in helping to build up ex-ante funds. As the G20 put it in their declaration at the Toronto Summit in June 2010, “the financial sector should make a fair and substantial contribution towards paying for any burdens associated with government interventions, where they occur, to repair the financial system or fund resolution, and reduce risks from the financial system.” Taxation is an obvious way of doing this. So far, any tax initiatives taken since the crisis broke were designed mainly to raise revenue in somewhat trying circumstances. Some were aimed at the financial sector, and some levies, in France, Italy and the UK, for instance, targeted large bank bonuses, with obvious political as well as economic intentions of getting the “fat cats” to pay their fair share. Did these measures work? Yes and no. One high-profile example is the UK. Its tax, which expired in April 2010, was a one-off surcharge payable by banks equivalent to 50% of discretionary bonus payments above a specific threshold. The UK Treasury intended it as a way “to encourage banks to consider their capital position and to make appropriate risk adjustments when setting the level of bonus payments above the threshold.” With City bonuses again ballooning as the crisis keeps its grip on the UK economy, the tax was not deemed very successful in changing behaviour. That said, it did raise welcome revenues for the exchequer. Taxation is a tricky area, even if the aim is to recoup funds. There may be concerns about double-taxation for instance, or losing competitiveness, or indeed, penalising good banks and institutions that had nothing to do with the crisis, and whose proper management helped them survive the crisis in the first place. Setting taxes on financial

institutions at relatively high levels could cause subsidiaries of foreign banks to reduce their activities altogether. Also, care is needed in taxing any single sector, since tax reforms have to be carried out in such a way as to maintain an effective overall tax structure. Nevertheless, looked at closely, many tax officials feel that tax regimes affecting financial sectors in most OECD countries could do with some tweaks, since they tend to favour raising debt over, say, equity financing. Others believe that financial sector activities are under-taxed anyway, compared to manufacturing, for instance, partly because the application of value-added taxes to the

Perhaps the approach being watched most closely is Sweden’s financial sector is fraught with complications. In any case, the issue is not just to close current funding gaps that have opened up during this crisis, but to prepare for the future. New insurance approaches? While schemes for insuring retail deposits exist in almost all OECD countries, systemic crises are not meant to be dealt exclusively with such arrangements. The recent crisis merely confirms that such arrangements are ill-equipped to absorb shocks of the magnitude we have just experienced. Against this background, policymakers have been looking to the example of catastrophic risk insurance, such as for terrorism, nuclear accident risk and other emergencies, to see if models could be emulated there. Several OECD countries have already established specific public-private risk sharing arrangements for catastrophic events at the national level. This structure typically involves a first layer of funding consisting of deductibles and self-insurance by the private sector, and a top layer provided by the government. Other layers include insurance and reinsurance. Capital markets may also be involved through the issuance of catastrophe bonds.

But there are issues to consider with this approach. For a start, while financial market crises are man-made, not natural, disasters, they do share a common main problem, insofar as the insurance (and reinsurance) capacity is ultimately limited. Moreover, the financial management challenges of covering the risks of market meltdowns would be enormous, not least because of the sheer magnitude of the potential exposure. And as for averting crises, while moral hazard is not an innate flaw of insurance solutions, the very existence of catastrophic insurance for the financial sector could in theory encourage moral hazard, leading to more reckless borrowing and lending, not less. Policy leaders While it is difficult to say how much ex-ante funding would be needed to resolve a future systemic financial crisis, some governments are determined to find out. Germany, for instance, has passed a law on bank restructuring, which includes establishing a restructuring fund. The main aim of the law is to ensure the resolvability of any bank, including systemically important ones, while avoiding any major disruption to the wider economy. The law came into effect at the end of 2010, and will be monitored with great interest in Germany and abroad. Perhaps the approach being watched most closely is Sweden’s, precisely because of its funding aspect. Rather in the spirit of the oilrelated investment fund which neighbouring Norway set up for future pensions in the 1990s, Sweden introduced a “stability levy” in 2009. Basically, it’s an annual tax of 0.036% on most of a bank’s liabilities, with the proceeds earmarked for a “stability fund”. The aim is to build up funding to the tune of 2.5% of GDP within 15 years. This not-insignificant fund is intended to help to address disturbances in the financial system, though it will not obviate the need for developing effective rules for ex-post burdensharing. Still, it will provide that extra cushion which taxpayers appreciate and which could limit the negative impact of the next crisis.

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Bank crisis: Why private creditors should share the burden Very importantly, such crisis resolution funds would help to sever the link between the sovereign authorities and the domestic banking sector, a link which turned out to be so problematic in the case of Ireland and some other countries in the recent financial crisis.

But even ex-ante funding is not a silver bullet for ending a crisis. Nor would it likely cover all the costs, as these vary so wildly that they cannot be foreseen with any real certainty: consider Indonesia’s 1997 crisis, which cost nearly 60% of its GDP, or Finland’s at the start of the 1990s which cost some 14% of GDP. That’s roughly the estimate of the latest crisis for Iceland and the Netherlands. All this said, some ex-ante funding to bridge inevitable funding gaps would be better than nothing at all and would at least reduce sovereign liabilities. Even minor benefits like this should not be underestimated, given the impending cost pressures of the likes of ageing, healthcare and climate change. Crises will undoubtedly happen again, but building some kind of ex-ante fund towards their resolution, whether along Swedish lines or some other approach, may at least instil some “stability” in an otherwise unstable situation. That, in itself, makes it a policy worth considering. References Schich, Sebastian and Byoung-Hwan Kim (2010), “Systemic Financial Crises: How to Fund Resolution”, in Financial Market Trends, Volume 2010, Issue 2, OECD, Paris G20 Toronto Summit Declaration, 27 June 2010, see www.g20.utoronto.ca HM Treasury (2010), Budget 2010, Chapter 3: “Reforming Financial Services”, 24 March, see www.direct.gov.uk

©REUTERS/Daniel Munoz

Sweden’s proactive initiative has attracted widespread attention. The IMF now suggests that, by accumulating taxes over a decade, such “crisis resolution” funds should aim for 2-4% of GDP. Such a fund would be attractive to many voters, particularly if the financial sector was seen to be contributing its fair share.

Interview with Mohamed El-Erian, CEO of PIMCO

The financial crisis has taken a heavy toll on government finances and taxpayers are still footing the bill. Could private investors do more to help out? Mohamed El-Erian, CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO, believes they should. He explains to the OECD Observer.

OECD Observer: Do you think the banking crisis is nearing the end or is the going still too fragile to call? Mohamed El-Erian: A lot of progress has been made in recapitalising the banking system, de-risking it and identifying what needs to be done to minimise the likelihood of another crisis. These positive developments have come at a significant cost to society, however. And it will take a lot of time to deal with the collateral damage and unintended consequences. As an illustration, think of the following three issues: First, governments in many advanced economies found it necessary to step in with their balance sheets, both to offset the disorderly deleveraging of the private sector and to avoid a global depression. Accordingly, the liabilities have been transferred to the public sector, with the result that too many

countries now have budgetary deficits and public debt problems.Second, in some cases, such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the sovereign problems are so acute as to result in a full-blown debt crisis together with a legitimate, though previously unthinkable, debate about the possibility of debt restructuring in advanced economies. Third, the debacle in the banking system has contributed to sluggish economic growth, thus aggravating the structural headwinds facing employment creation–

The current approach piles new debt on top of old debt while shifting more liabilities from private balance sheets to taxpayers especially in the finance-dependent economies, such as the UK and US, and those with acute debt problems, such as peripheral euro area countries. In the process, income and wealth inequalities are worsening. Because of this mix, the global economy is healing but only in a gradual, uneven and tentative fashion.

ECONOMY

A few months ago you went on the record as saying that “a broader burden sharing” involving private creditors would be needed to help with bank bailouts. Could you explain? In addressing the peripheral debt problem, the EU, ECB and IMF have essentially opted for a liquidity approach now and a solvency approach later. While understandable, this involves significant costs and risks. Consider the euro zone countries–Greece, Ireland and Portugal–that have received large bailout packages. In all three cases, the burden has been borne by people domestically, who are experiencing severe austerity programmes, and official creditors who have made substantial financing available. Private creditors have been repaid in full, and the vast majority has resisted any renewal of their financial commitments. This approach essentially piles new debt on top of old debt, while also shifting an increasing share of the liabilities from private balance sheets to taxpayers. It does very little to deal with the debt overhang that is undermining new investment, growth and employment creation. It should therefore come as no great surprise that so many of the original objectives of the bailout packages have not been met. Consider Greece as an illustration. Despite over a year of enormous sacrifices on the part of Greek society and exceptional financial support from the ECB/EU/ IMF, the country is still very far from regaining economic and financial stability. Greek output continues to collapse, unemployment is rising, the budget deficit remains alarming, the domestic banks are extremely weak, and the already excessive debt burden is increasing further. Meanwhile, doubtful liabilities continue to be transferred from private creditors, who knew that they were taking risks in lending to Greece and opted for earning a risk

premium, to Greek and European taxpayers as well as to the balance sheet of the IMF.

success associated with their historical development breakout phase.

So while the approach has bought time for other vulnerable segments and countries in the euro zone to get their house in better order, it has done very little to re-establish the conditions for growth in the peripheral economies. Meanwhile, the substantial burdens associated with this approach, both current and future, continue to be shifted on to taxpayers.

These risks are manageable, but they require steadfast attention, responsiveness and agility on the part of policymakers. By responding well to the challenges, policymakers have the potential to enable further healing in the global economy and, hopefully, get to a critical mass of healthy sectors that are able to pull up the less healthy sectors. If they fail, the world will face increasingly disruptive, stagflationary winds.

What are the major challenges you see in the months ahead for the global economy and what advice would you give policymakers in OECD countries and beyond? The baseline of continued, albeit slow and uneven, global economic healing brings major challenges that should be understood and, in several cases, addressed. First, the world has to deal with both a negative demand shock and a negative supply shock associated with higher oil prices and Japan’s tragic triple calamity. It is not often that such a combination is in play, and it is even less common to have two sources of simultaneous negative shocks in play at the same time. Second, if Europe does not adjust its approach to the peripheral debt crisis, the potential threats to the region and the world will grow over time.

References BBC News: “Pimco boss: Pain of rescues ‘should be shared’”, 24 November 2010, see www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11835044 See www.oecd.org/publicdebtmanagement Visit www.pimco.com

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Third, the failure to agree to medium-term fiscal reform in the US serves to weaken the outlook for the country and undermines its role at the core of the global system. This comes at a time when the authorities are also contemplating how best to exit from a series of unconventional policy measures, and when the housing sector remains vulnerable. Fourth, emerging economies must deal with incidences of overheating and, more generally, continue to manage the

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Israel’s economic strategy income inequality between the centre and periphery. In addition, we are working to develop a long-term and strategic fiscal planning based on: • education, which is Israel’s long-term growth engine; • encouraging the Ultra-orthodox and Arabs to participate in the labour market by providing skills and job opportunities;

©OECD

• promoting business in Israel by cutting red tape and streamlining regulations;

Interview with Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Finance, Israel

A year ago, at the 2010 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, Israel was formally invited to become a member of the OECD, following three years of accession negotiations. Israel duly became the organisation’s 33rd member country a few months later, in September 2010. The OECD Observer asked the minister of finance, Yuval Steinitz, to outline his views on the country’s economic challenges. OECD Observer: What main economic challenges does Israel now face? Yuval Steinitz: Our key challenges include the rising competition to Israeli exports, the unsatisfactory performances of the education system and relatively high level of income inequality. The 2011-2012 budget strives to improve education, health and social welfare. In addition, it sets out to promote the high-tech industry, support higher growth and increase the integration of Ultra-orthodox (Haredim) Jews and Israeli Arabs into the workforce. Government expenditure is expected to increase by 2.6% in 2011 and 2012 alike, as dictated by the new fiscal rules. What attributes would you highlight? Our focus continues to be on promoting significant economic growth, increasing participation in the labour market, improving education and reducing the 16

•

investing billions of shekels in transport infrastructure, including roads and rail, with a focus on connecting the Galilee and the Negev.

How important has joining the OECD been for Israel and what can membership bring your country? Becoming a member country of the OECD has already led to economic improvements and enhanced Israel’s economic image, as well as improved the functioning of various sectors in Israel’s society and economy, including environment, education and employment. The improvement and upgrading process is continuing as part of the government’s commitment to ongoing peer review by the organisation and to adjust its regulation policy to OECD standards. The process of joining the OECD has already encouraged us to adopt a variety of reforms and norms. We are building on the experience of the OECD member countries in forming government policy and implementing reforms, such as on the environment. OECD membership is a driving force for continual improvement of government efficiency through annual reports, peer reviews and the organisation’s wealth of expertise. We plan on taking full advantage of what the OECD has to offer us. The OECD is also a unique forum in which we can discuss national experience and best practices, and find solutions to common problems.

The OECD is celebrating its 50th anniversary. What contribution do you think Israel can make to the organisation in the years ahead? Israel shares the basic values of an open market economy and democratic pluralism. It ranks among the world’s leading countries with respect to the number of scientists, engineers and high-tech start-ups per capita, as well as in R&D spending per capita. Due to its achievements in information technology, water management, industrial biotechnology and knowledge-based agriculture, Israel can contribute to improving standards of living through innovation. Moreover, we believe our fiscal frameworks–including the new “two-year budget model”–are modern and innovative, and can be examined by other member countries. We look forward to contributing to OECD working groups on a variety of topics. How do you see the economic challenges facing the world more widely? In the short term, downside risks remain a concern. We are particularly concerned with the deterioration of global fiscal positions, the uncertainty related to a premature exit from expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, and the potential for inflation and rise in commodity prices. We are also monitoring the stress remaining in the financial sector and the imbalances in the global economy. For more on Israel’s invitation to formally join the OECD, see www.oecd.org/mcm2010 and www.oecd.org/accession To mark Israel’s first anniversary of accession to the OECD, a special spotlight on Israel’s economy will be included in OECD Observer No 285, Q2 2011. Visit www.finance.gov.il

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Why does VAT/GST remain under-managed?

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only a minority (20 percent) have specific VAT/GST performance goals visible to the CFO. Further, the range of VAT/GST metrics documented in global organizations is limited, and those that exist mostly focus on cash flow (55 percent of those having specific VAT/GST goals) and compliance management (50 percent). The fact that cash flow is such an important metric is not surprising. More organizations are recognizing the impact that VAT/GST has on the cash available to the business and the need to proactively manage it where possible. The focus on compliance management is also understandable, particularly as tax authorities worldwide focus more on VAT/GST as a real-time tax on consumption, rather than on investment or profit.

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VAT’s next half century: Towards a single-rate system? Jeffrey Owens, Director, and Piet Battiau, OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, Alain Charlet, WTS France*

argument that consumers have a choice to buy or not buy certain items, and, where daily essentials, such as food and shoes, are concerned, policymakers can intervene for equity purposes. Any debate on distributional issues needs to focus on the entire tax and benefit system, and not just on one tax in isolation. Added potential? Given the recent financial and economic crises, tax revenues from most other taxes, including personal and corporate income taxes, risk being relatively low for the next few years and could take time to recover. Companies will generate less income tax,

Like the OECD, VAT has also been around for about 50 years. Is it time to reform some of the older, more unwieldy versions and go for a trimmer, broad-base, standard-rate VAT system instead? Value-added tax is but a baby in the history of tax. It was a German businessman, Wilhelm Von Siemens, who, in the 1920s, first described the idea of putting a tax on the additional value of output at each stage of its creation, rather than just at the retail sales end. But it was a Frenchman, Maurice Lauré, a tax official, who was the first to implement one in 1954. VAT in various guises subsequently appeared in former French West Africa in the 1960s and in Brazil in 1965. By the late eighties, some 48 countries had VAT, mainly in Western Europe and Latin America. VAT is now implemented in over 150 countries, where it accounts on average for as much as a fifth of the total tax revenue. Today, all OECD countries, with the exception of the US, have VAT systems in place. In fact, revenues from VAT represented on average 18.7% of total tax revenues of OECD countries in 2008, compared to 8.8% in 1975. Why have VAT systems become so popular with governments? For a start, they are effective in terms of raising revenue and are cost-effective to administer compared with other taxes. VAT is actually collected by businesses at each stage of the production and distribution chain. Along the stages of 20

the value chain, businesses are charged a tax for the inputs they buy to produce further goods or services, but can recover that tax in the price of the good or service they sell to the next supplier. This means the total tax levied at each output stage is a constant portion of the value added to the good or service. In the end the total tax collected throughout the chain should correspond to the VAT paid by the final consumer. This makes it a secure tax to collect, compared with conventional sales taxes which can be lost if evasion happens right at the final sales stage. It is also an attractive tax from the taxpayers’ perspective because of its transparent nature: people know what they pay, and if they don’t buy the goods, they don’t pay the tax. There are economic attractions to VAT too. Research by OECD tax economists suggests that VAT is better for economic growth than income taxes, in that VAT has less negative impact on the economic decisions of households and businesses than income tax. For example, VAT does not discourage savings and investment. In international trade, VAT has proven to be the preferred alternative for customs duties in the context of trade liberalisation: it taxes importation and zero-rate exports, so it does not affect international competiveness. From a distributional perspective, there is more debate: some see it as a regressive tax, affecting lower income earners more than higher ones. This is countered by the

Reduced VAT rates rarely achieve their objective and with unemployment higher, so will households. Also revenues from social contributions will be relatively low. The everincreasing importance of VAT is therefore likely to continue. Hence the importance of ensuring that VAT systems are designed and operated efficiently. One area of priority is to make the system less complex. Simple tax systems are more efficient and offer more certainty to taxpayers. One way of reducing complexity is to broaden the VAT base, so that goods and services that are now subject to zero and reduced rates would be taxed at the standard rate. The use of multiple VAT rates creates complexity, and increases administrative and compliance costs. Two groups OECD countries can be classified into two broad categories. The first group–mostly European Union countries–has a narrow base of goods and services taxed at a standard rate, with reduced or zero rates surrounding it. The European VAT Directive allows EU member states to apply a standard rate of minimum 15% and two reduced rates that can go no lower than 5%. However, there are “reserved rights” for older EU member states to a lower rate,

TAX

The second group of countries has a much broader base at the standard rate. This is how VAT is designed in Australia, Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and South

Simple VAT systems are more efficient and offer more certainty Africa, drawing lessons from the difficulties of rate differentiation within the EU. New Zealand introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 1986 that is levied on a broad base at a low single standard rate, with few exceptions or exemptions. The result is that New Zealand scores the highest on the OECD “VAT revenue ratio”, which is an indicator that attempts to measure the gap between the revenues that would arise from a theoretically pure VAT system (a single rate with full compliance and full tax collection) and the revenues actually collected. Developing countries seem to have taken to these single-rate systems too. Of the 21 African countries that adopted VAT between 1990 and 1999, 14 have a single rate system, as have eight of the nine African countries that have adopted VAT since 2000. South Africa, which implemented VAT in 1991, only exempts or zero-rates a limited number of items such as basic foodstuffs and paraffin to help the poorest households. It also keeps its system quite simple by applying a relatively high VAT registration threshold so as to exclude small firms from the system. Another feature worth noting is that the standard rate in such countries is often lower than the European Union minimum of 15%, with 10% in Australia, 15% in New Zealand and 14% in South Africa for instance. Switzerland, interestingly, began a public consultation in 2007 as part of an assessment of its VAT system 10 years after

its introduction. The first part of the reform came into force in January 2010. This should help reduce compliance costs for businesses. The second part of the reform– at this stage still only a proposal–would replace the three existing VAT rates of 2.5%, 3.8% and 8% by a single rate of 6.1%. It would also remove 20 of the 25 exemptions. Some studies suggest that the reform could reduce business compliance costs by 2030% and add 0.1-0.7% to economic growth. Growth and equity OECD economists have long supported the view that, all things being equal, a broad base, single-rate VAT is the preferred tax approach. It is a growth-oriented approach that allows governments to increase their revenues while cutting administration and compliance costs. The European Commission, in its December 2010 Green Paper on the Future of VAT suggests that a “broad-based VAT system, ideally with a single rate, would be quite close to the ideal of a pure consumption tax that minimises compliance costs”.

of the population better off …”. The Swiss government in its reforms appears to back this view and has argued that redistribution policy will be better achieved via a single VAT rate rather than via one with reduced rates or exceptions. On the other hand, the 2007 Copenhagen Economics study on the use of reduced VAT rates in the European Union suggested that reduced rates in carefully targeted sectors may provide some benefits, for instance when the locally supplied services employ many low-skilled workers. This may discourage working in the informal sector, for instance.

But what about equity and redistributive issues? After all, many countries justify reduced rates as a way of not penalising the poorest households for buying daily essentials, since these households spend more of their income on food and clothing. However, research on the merits of reduced rates suggests that they are rarely effective in achieving distributional objectives.

However, overall experience with reduced VAT rates confirms that they rarely achieve their objective. The 2001 South Africa zero-rating of paraffin for instance proved ineffective as suppliers took the benefits but did not pass them on to consumers. Or take France’s decision in 2009 to cut VAT from 19.6% to 5.5% in a bid to bolster restaurant and catering services. According to the French national statistics institute, restaurant prices decreased by no more than 1.1% in July 2009 and actually edged up a little by October. Only 30% of the VAT cut would have been passed on to customers, studies showed, and the entire exercise could end up costing the government in lost revenue. More recently, this time in Germany, it has been reported that a VAT cut in the hotel industry, as part of the

Reduced rates are not an effective way of alleviating the tax burden on lowincome individuals. Indeed, the wealthy also benefit from reduced rates and, as they consume more, they benefit more too. A more effective policy would be to apply a single VAT rate and to implement compensatory measures that are directly targeted at increasing the real income of poorer households. The Mirrlees review, for instance, produced by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, argues that, in the UK, “ending all current zero and reduced rates (except for housing and exports) while increasing all means-tested benefit and tax credit rates by 15% would leave the poorest 30%

Tax official Maurice Lauré, who pioneered VAT in 1954

©AFP

if that rate was in place before 1991. The main motivation for Europe’s reduced rates was to alleviate tax on basic necessities, such as food and clothing, for poor households.

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2010 tax cut, would not have been passed on to consumers. Some suggested the money saved by businesses was invested in renovation and acquisitions, instead of being passed on to customers.

Value-added tax/Goods & services tax Standard rates, %, selected OECD countries, 2010 30.0

In addition, a single standard rate decreases the cost of administration whereas multiple VAT rate structures with numerous exemptions make compliance more difficult for taxpayers and for tax administrations. Furthermore, they may lead to legal uncertainty, as similar products can be subject to the standard or reduced rate depending on their nature, as one famous UK case on whether a potato crisp should be taxed at the same low rate as a biscuit showed. Very recently a French high court decided that margarine should be taxed at the standard rate instead of the reduced rate that applies to butter, on the basis that public interest requires favouring dairy products. Such disputes can be timeconsuming, and open up opportunities for lobbying and unwarranted tax planning or avoidance. Political choices Tax is ultimately the expression of political consensus and democratic debate. It reflects citizens’ preferences, which vary from culture to culture. For policymakers wishing to reform VAT into a single-rate system, careful assessment of the costs and benefits, followed by public consultation, is essential. This is not just a matter of principle, but 22

Single-rate VAT/GST systems

25.0

All this is not to say that VAT does not have a regressive effect on poor households, but rather, that other means can be more effective in achieving redistribution goals than reduced VAT rates. In any case, VAT reform should not be considered in isolation from the tax system as a whole. Accompanying measures to compensate those that would lose out should be studied carefully, notably in terms of personal income tax, as well as social benefits. New Zealand’s GST reform for instance, was balanced via changes in income tax and social welfare, with the revenues generated from the GST being used to finance redistribution.

20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0

Australia Canada France Ireland Korea New Poland Portugal Sweden Turkey Zealand

Note: GST in Australia, Canada, New Zealand Source: OECD (2011), Consumption Tax Trends 2010

political longevity. Consider New Zealand again, which introduced its GST system in 1986 after much public discussion. This GST was levied on all products, including food and clothes, and was accompanied by redistribution initiatives for the poor. But the public was won over. In contrast, the political party that proposed introducing exemptions in 1987 lost the subsequent election. Just as with the OECD, after more than 50 years VAT may now be at a turning point in its life. As countries continue to deal with fiscal consolidation in the wake of the financial and economic crises and seek to restore growth, and as the increasing budgetary importance of VAT is likely to continue, it is time to consider reform to improve the efficiency of VAT systems. More analysis is needed, but the evidence so far suggests that reform to broaden the VAT base would be good for economic growth, revenues and social objectives. Political leadership is the value-added ingredient needed to make such reforms happen. *Mr Charlet participates in the OECD Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Consumption Taxes as a member of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC). **The authors would like to give special thanks to David Holmes and Stéphane Buydens for their suggestions.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932369809 for complete table

References Charlet, Alain and Jeffrey Owens (2010), “An International Perspective on VAT”, in Tax Notes International, Vol. 59, No 12, September 2010 Johansson, Âsa, Christopher Heady, Jens Arnold, Bert Brys and Laura Vartia, “Tax and Economic Growth”, OECD Economics Department Working Paper n° 620, 11 July 2008, p.42-45 Crawford, Ian, Michael Keen and Stephen Smith (2010), “Value Added Tax and Excises”, prepared for the report of a commission on Reforming the Tax System for the 21st Century, chaired by Sir James Mirrlees, www.ifs.org.uk/mirrleesReview Dickson, Ian and David White, ‘‘Tax Design Insights from the New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST) Model,’’ Working Paper 60, Apr. 2008, Centre for Accounting, Governance, and Taxation Research, School of Accounting and Commercial Law, Victoria University of Wellington Go, Delfin S., Marna Kearney, Sherman Robinson and Karen Thierfelder, “An Analysis of South Africa’s Value Added Tax”, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3671, August 2005, page 19 OECD (2011), Consumption Tax Trends 2010: VAT/GST and Excise Rates, Trends and Administration Issues Visit www.oecd.org/tax

TAX

Africa’s tax system: A survey Alan Carter and Ana Cebreiro, OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration

tax administration reforms are being implemented now exceed 16.8% of GDP, which was the average for fragile and lower income countries. But to make a bigger difference, more information is needed about how tax administrations actually work and where the problems lie.

Tax collection costs Total administrative expenditure, % of total revenue, selected countries, 2008 4

Malawi

Sierra Leone

Burundi

Tanzania

Ghana

Rwanda

Zambia

Uganda

Mauritius

Kenya

South Africa

Botswana

Benin

Source: OECD

Building tax administration capacity is needed to help spur development in Africa. A new survey shows that action is being taken, but more work is needed. Tax revenues account for over a third of GDP in OECD countries. But they account for far less in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they correspond to less than a fifth of GDP. More tax revenue would not only help the governments of these countries function and pay for goods and services, but would open the way for other market and state reforms that would promote economic, social and environmental development. Raising tax burdens might seem like an odd proposition to policymakers in crisisstricken OECD countries as they bid to raise revenues while keeping tax burdens as light as they can for the sake of growth. But when taxes account for 10 to 15% of GDP, a well-designed increase in tax is exactly what many developing countries need: just as an excessively heavy tax burden might crush activity, an excessively low one can starve an economy of the oxygen it needs to advance.

But how can more tax revenue be raised in poorer economies? One way is to generate more growth, but as many of the countries concerned lack the resources to administer tax, this approach may not be enough, that is, not unless efforts are made to improve the effectiveness of tax administration systems at the same time. That means strengthening the capacity and resources needed for better taxpayers’ services and enforcement, reviewing tax structures, and investing in skills and management systems needed to produce corruption-free tax systems. This is easier said than done, of course, but improving the effectiveness and transparency of tax administration systems is nonetheless widely accepted as a key step to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. And because it means mobilising more domestic taxation, it can also help in smoothing efforts to open up world trade by further reducing the reliance on border taxes. In other words, channelling funds, including development aid, towards better tax administration is money well spent. Indeed, as OECD data shows, tax/GDP ratios in sub-Saharan countries where

To fill this gap, the International Tax Dialogue, a global initiative based at the OECD and involving the EU, the IMF and the World Bank, among others, has undertaken a survey of 15 sub-Saharan African revenue bodies–Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The aim is to build a clear picture as to the various approaches and practices used across the continent, to identify problems and to provide policymakers with a better view of the kinds of measures that might be taken to address them. Similar work has already been carried out for the 50 middle and higher income countries of the OECD’s Forum on Tax Administration. The good news is that all of the countries surveyed by the International Tax Dialogue are currently engaged in some pretty significant tax administration reforms, often with donor support. Nevertheless, our pilot survey has revealed some instructive trends and patterns. Take cost, which is one of the main challenges facing tax administrators in developing countries. The cost of collection varies from 1% to 4% of the total collected in the region. Salary and related expenditures account for the largest portion–some 6080% of the budget. In most of the surveyed countries, investment in information technology accounts for less than 2% of total administrative expenditure. It should therefore come as no surprise to learn that most of the revenue bodies surveyed reported being dissatisfied with their existing IT systems. Efforts are being made to address this: all revenue bodies surveyed, with the exception of Burundi, indicated that they have a separate and substantive in-house IT function, and OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Further investment in administrative systems would undoubtedly help improve treatment of taxpayers too. As the survey shows, all revenue bodies, except South Africa, assign identification numbers ostensibly across all tax types, including customs. All personal and corporate income tax systems are based on selfassessment principles. VAT is a feature across all countries surveyed, with a few countries using two thresholds, one for the sale of goods and another for services. In fact, indirect taxes contribute the highest proportion of revenue in seven of the countries surveyed, with direct taxes in six countries and international trade taxes in two countries. Non-tax revenues such as income from state-owned enterprises, fees and other payments for government services account for a very small proportion–about 1 to 2%–of total revenue collection. Compare this to developing countries in Latin America, where these can reach 10% or more of government revenues. Regarding enforcement, all countries believe they have adequate powers to enforce the payment of tax, with various interest and penalty regimes for similar offences applying across tax types, specifically for income taxes on the one hand and for VAT on the other. However, it is unclear how effective these measures are in practice: this is an area for further exploration. Institutional arrangements are another issue which can have an impact on the effectiveness of tax administration. The revenue bodies in most of the countries surveyed follow a relatively unified, semiautonomous model, meaning that they have considerable freedom to interpret tax laws, allocate resources, design internal structures and implement appropriate human resource management strategies.

At the same time, they are responsible for tax, customs and non-tax revenue operations. Three of the countries surveyed are now integrating the collection of social security contributions with tax operations, a trend that is emerging in OECD countries too. As for organisational arrangements, most are hybrid in nature. In line with current practice in tax administration, a number of revenue bodies have set up a headquarters

Most of the revenue bodies surveyed reported being dissatisfied with their IT systems function to provide operational policy guidance to field delivery. Moreover, all revenue bodies (except Botswana) have set up a “large taxpayers’ office” to administer all tax affairs of major enterprises and some individuals. Apart from Botswana and Mauritius, the revenue bodies have also created special taxation regimes for small and micro-enterprises, and six countries have set up dedicated units to manage them. Meanwhile, all revenue bodies surveyed produce 3-5 year business/corporate plans using established planning frameworks, with clear mission statements, visions and objectives, as well as the actions to reach them, as do OECD countries. Most of the revenue bodies are funded through parliamentary appropriations, meaning that they develop budget proposals and bid for funding just like any other government department or agency. Some countries provide their revenue body with a performance bonus, such as a percentage of the collections, which is a practice rarely found elsewhere. As this pilot survey suggests, real efforts are evidently underway to build effective tax administrations in several African countries, which is good news for long-term

©South African government

some are developing or plan to implement integrated tax administration systems for self-help services such as online registration, filing and payment.

Collaborating with the OECD: Oupa Magashula, Chair, African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF)

economic development. However, the devil is in the detail, and a more comprehensive study is to be carried out in collaboration with the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and other international institutions to paint a clearer picture of the character and particular needs of the various administrations across the region. This information will also feed into the G20-led push on tax and development. That means covering more countries, and collecting and further refining the data, while drawing comparisons with countries outside the region. It is a major undertaking, but if countries in sub-Saharan Africa can use the information to help them improve their tax policies and their development paths at the same time, then the task will be worth it.

References Magashula, Oupa (2010), “African tax administration: A new era”, in OECD Observer No 279, May Owens, Jeffrey, and Richard Carey (2010), “Tax for development”, in OECD Observer No 276-277 December-January, see www.oecdobserver.org OECD (2011), Revenue Administration in Sub-Saharan Africa, International Tax Dialogue (ITD), Comparative Study Series See the International Tax Dialogue’s website at www.itdweb.org

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Development: New world, new economics

Interview with Justin Yifu Lin, World Bank Chief Economist

In 2008, the Chinese economist Justin Yifu Lin became the first person from a developing country to be appointed World Bank Chief Economist. At the Bank, Dr Lin has pioneered “New Structural Economics,” which aims to find the right balance between the roles of the market and the state in developing countries’ economies. In the run-up to the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE), which this year will be hosted at the OECD, he spoke to Brian Keeley.* Brian Keeley: Your work on New Structural Economics represents a change of direction for development economics. How would you characterise the discipline so far? Justin Yifu Lin: Development economics is a relatively new discipline. It didn’t appear until the post-war period. At the beginning, the understanding was that to reach high-income levels, a developing country needed to have the same industrial structure as a developed country. But developing countries didn’t have that. The understanding was that this was because of market failures caused by some kind of structural rigidity. So governments were advised to intervene to support the

development of those new industries and to adopt import substitution strategies. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the development thinking switched to the Washington Consensus–government failures were perceived as more serious than market failures, so it was thought better to

Developing countries sought to develop the industries prevailing in high-income countries, but these were not aligned with their comparative advantages have a policy framework to achieve a balanced budget and for government not to intervene directly in industrial development. Its goal was just to level the playing field, and the market would essentially do the rest. You suggest these approaches were both flawed. Why? Firstly, structural economics. Developing countries sought to develop the industries prevailing in high-income countries, but these were not aligned with their comparative advantages. So firms were not viable, and their products were not competitive in domestic and international markets; there had to be a lot of subsidies

and protection, which opened the door for political and industrial elites (and the like) to have so-called rent seeking. That led to corruption and political capture in developing countries that pursued those kinds of policies. Then, with the Washington Consensus there were two issues: it did not appreciate that the various distortions of the past were a way to support non-viable firms. If the distortions were removed immediately, those firms would go bankrupt, causing unemployment and social instability. Also, it did not consider the necessary role of the state in overcoming the issues of compensation for externalities and coordination of infrastructure improvement or institutional change, which are crucial for the development of new sectors. A key aim of New Structural Economics is to better understand the roles of the market and of the state in economic development. I think it should be a more balanced view than the development thinking we’ve had so far. How is it more balanced? Economic development is a process of continuous technological innovation and structural transformation. In this process, a well-functioning market system is the

DEVELOPMENT

foundation for effective resource allocation. However, moving into new sectors and new industries requires co-ordination to ensure investment in hard infrastructure, like transportation and telecommunications, or improvement in soft infrastructure, like the financial system and education system. Individual firms will not be able to internalise all those changes by their own decisions. There’s a market failure there: it is

Since 2000, developing countries’ growth rate has been much faster than developed countries’. Global governance needs to reflect these realities not something the market will do on its own, so it requires the government to co-ordinate various private firms’ investments or for the government to make those investments itself. That’s one role for the state. The second concerns “first movers”, who may experience failure or success as they enter new sectors. With failure, they pay all the costs. With success, it’s a signal to the economy that this new sector represents the economy’s comparative advantage, so it’s going to attract a lot of new entrants, limiting the first mover’s potential profits and its initial incentive to enter the new sector. In a high-income country, the patent system compensates the first mover. But in developing countries, they are entering into industries that are new to them but that are mature in the global system. So the government needs to find some way of providing incentives to the first mover. Overall, instead of the government trying to move the economy from A to Z–from being based on agriculture to being heavily industrialised–in one giant leap, you’re talking about nudging it from A to B, then B to C and so on? Right! I use the term “facilitating state”. The government’s intervention should be limited to sectors where the economy has latent comparative advantage–in effect, there is a comparative advantage, but because of the lack of facilitation and co-ordination, it has

not been harnessed yet. The government’s role is to remove the constraints for domestic private firms, if there has been spontaneous entry, or to encourage the investment of foreign firms to the sector. In this interaction between the state and the private sector, the government facilitates, but it does not impose. How do you prevent, say, corruption in your model? I think the propensity for corruption and rent seeking depends on the scale of the subsidies. As the new sector in the above approach is consistent with the economy’s comparative advantage, a government’s small incentive to the first movers will be enough to compensate them for the information externalities they generate. The government’s facilitating role is mostly in co-ordinating required improvements in hard and soft infrastructure. So the opportunity and incentive for any rent seeking will be small. Does this model only work in an authoritarian state? Government commitment is necessary, but it doesn’t depend on whether it’s authoritarian or democratic. Ireland is a recent example. Before 1987, its economy was a basket case. But after ’87, the Irish Industrial Development Authority’s industrial policy focused on selected industries, including information, electronic, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and later on financial services. For 20 years, Ireland enjoyed a similar growth rate to East Asia and became one of the highest-income countries in Europe. Certainly, Ireland now has problems, but not because of its industrial policy. Mauritius also has had very successful industrial policies. Both of them have democratic systems. How significant is it that a Chinese citizen is now World Bank chief economist, and does your appointment reflect a rethinking of global governance in response to the rapid evolution of the world economy? Good question. Before 2000, more than 60% of global GDP was produced by the G7 countries, and the international institutions

reflected that reality. But since 2000, developing countries’ growth rate has been much faster than developed countries’. Global governance needs to reflect these realities. I think the reason why I have the honour to be the first Chief Economist from a developing country reflects these changes in the global landscape. In the past, the funding for development, as well as the ideas, mainly came from high-income countries. But now the world is entering into a new era: developing countries themselves can generate a lot of funds for development both in terms of investment and even in official development assistance. At the same time, developing countries provide useful lessons for each other. Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, gave a speech last fall at Georgetown University on democratising development economics, in which he asserted that every country should have an equal opportunity to make a contribution to development thinking and practice, and each country at every level of development can learn from each other. You’re clearly rethinking development economics. In the wake of the crisis, is economics in the market for new ideas? In the past few years, one of the most popular terms in economics has been “rethinking”. The function of economic theories is, first, to explain observed economic phenomena and to predict how they are going to evolve, and, second, to provide policy frameworks for coping with challenges or exploiting opportunities arising from the observed phenomena. This global crisis certainly was unexpected. The existing theory failed to predict its arrival and once it came, failed to predict its seriousness. For example, the existing theories believe that a financial system through competition will self-regulate. Well, now we understand that that kind of theory is imperfect. So there is a lot of rethinking in mainstream economics, and certainly in development economics as well. I think that’s a very healthy trend. *Dr Lin will speak at the ABCDE event, hosted at the OECD in Paris from 30 May to 1 June 2011. Brian Keeley is senior editor in the OECD Directorate of Public Affairs and Communications.

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Microcredit, big future products. Another challenge is to extend our activities to new countries, notably countries currently emerging from conflicts such as Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire or Iraq, countries where the transition to democracy rests entirely on the development of microfinance. Another major challenge is to raise international awareness of the importance of financial inclusion, because in far too many cases, as can be seen in the preparations for the G8 or the G20, financial inclusion is restricted to SMEs, and microfinance, which is absolutely crucial, is left out. I spend a lot of my time not only trying to secure funding

©AFP

Contrary to the statements made by most policymakers, I fear that the crisis is far from over

Interview with Jacques Attali, founder of PlaNet Finance

Microcredit has become a popular way to finance small businesses and local development projects, particularly in poorer countries. Economist, author, founder and first chairman of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Jacques Attali is founder of PlaNet Finance, which runs microfinance programmes in over 80 countries. In the run up to the OECD Forum in May 2011 where he is due to speak, Mr Attali talked to the OECD Observer.

OECD Observer: What is the origin of PlaNet Finance and what are its main activities? Jacques Attali: I founded PlaNet Finance in 1998 after meeting Muhammad Yunus several years earlier in Bangladesh*. I felt that he had created an extraordinary instrument for development and for assisting the transition to democracy through the creation of jobs and enterprises. After establishing the EBRD in London, the first programme I set up was a microcredit programme in Poland. I then had the idea of repeating this experiment throughout the world. The main goal of PlaNet Finance is

to support development and microfinance though all possible avenues worldwide. At present, PlaNet Finance is an institution which has operations in 80 countries, 1,200 employees and several different activities: technical assistance, financing, the creation of microfinance institutions which we own and manage, micro-insurance, mobile banking and initiatives in the suburbs in France; we also allow various actors to loan money directly online to microentrepreneurs. We are also developing hundreds of different programmes, ranging from advising governments on regulations, to helping the unemployed and the homeless get themselves back into a position where they can become entrepreneurs. What are the major challenges facing the PlaNet Finance Group today? The challenge for us today is first of all to manage our tremendous growth rate of 20-30% a year, to constantly remain extremely professional, to improve the quality of our managers and to innovate through new products: I spoke earlier of mobile banking, but we have many other

for PlaNet Finance from the World Bank and the European Union, as well as certain individual countries, but also raising the awareness of actors such as the OECD, the G8, G7, G20 and major governments, about the important role played by microfinance in easing the transition to a stable democracy. Microfinance is an essential tool for ensuring the longevity of democracy. Much therefore still remains to be done to convince decision-makers of the effectiveness of microcredit? Yes, there are currently some 700 million micro-entrepreneurs, of whom only 190 million have access to microcredit. This shows the scale of what needs to be done. The reason there aren’t more is that we don’t have the resources, not so much in terms of credit lines (we work with a fund with assets of over a billion dollars, Responsibility, which allows us to offer credit lines), but in terms of money we can invest in training, capacity-building, improving the skills of micro-entrepreneurs, and easing the power struggle between micro-entrepreneurs and the major multinationals, so that they can make the most of their value chains. All this requires money to provide technical assistance,

DEVELOPMENT

Cooking lesson which is the hardest type of funding to find. What advice would you give to world policymakers to speed up global development and meet the challenges we currently face? The magic square consists of opening up markets, microfinance, technology and democracy. These four elements are mutually reinforcing, and all four are essential for development. We can add education to the mix, but in my opinion, education flows from democracy. At the 2000 OECD Forum, you shared the stage with Bill Joy, the founder of Sun Micosystems. At the time you spoke of the risks and opportunities that lay ahead of us in the future. How do you see the future now, not only in terms of development but also with regard to innovation? I think that we are facing two tsunamis moving in opposite directions: the negative tsunami of the disasters in the financial system, and the positive tsunami of new technologies–information technologies, biotechnologies, nanotechnologies–which are engines of growth and which will perhaps help reduce all debt burdens. But I fear that the debt tsunami may well outpace technological progress. Contrary to the statements made by most policymakers, I fear that the crisis is far from over, since all we have done so far is to transform privatesector debt into public debt. Moreover, indebtedness is still rising and is simply a means of postponing the day of reckoning for the financial crisis. We cannot discount the possibility that technical progress will sweep all before it and resolve the crisis, but this would be an extremely long shot to bet upon. * Professor Muhammad Junus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in 1983, for which he received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. See www.planetfinancegroup.org

Fatima Boscaro, founder of AFENA

A new kitchen can raise the value of any home, but in developing countries it can also save lives. That is why in 2010 the OECD’s very own staff charity, the War on Hunger Group, decided to contribute funding to fitting a new kitchen in the headquarters of AFENA, an NGO dedicated to looking after abandoned women and children, and based in Niger’s second city, Maradi. On the face of it, AFENA’s new kitchen is not unlike kitchens found in any developed country. But it is different to most kitchens in Niger in one key respect: it uses gas. Niger is rich in natural gas, yet most people still use open fires and stoves to cook in their kitchens. Biomass is easy to come by, whereas gas is expensive, says Fatima Boscaro, the founder of AFENA, who spends her time between France and Niger. The trouble is, open stoves are one of the main causes of premature death in poorer countries, both from accidents and air pollution, with women and children being most vulnerable. Ms Boscaro has no doubt that the kitchen project she inspired, though a relatively inexpensive initiative at some €4,500 euros, covering design, sourcing locally made materials and installation,

©Flammarion/Michèle Constantini

will not only improve lives for the adults and children using her charity, but will set an example for others to follow. For the War on Hunger Group, such projects make good sense. “We are always pleased to establish new relationships with organisations which carry out effective development projects,” says Michael Benton, who chairs the group. “When we met Ms Boscaro in 2010, we could see how deeply committed she was, and knew she would see the kitchen project through.” The group, which is nearly as old as the OECD itself, having been set up as a voluntary association in 1964, aims to improve the lives of the most deprived people in the world, with priority given to projects likely to have lasting effects, in health, nutrition, education and production methods, for instance. Only exceptionally does it give to emergency relief, such as flooding, earthquakes and civil wars. The group’s 220 members contribute automatically from their salaries. All contributions go to project support, with no administrative expenses. Together with microfinance and NGOs, charities like the War on Hunger Group are a small but vital cog in the development machine. And as AFENA in Maradi might say, charity doesn’t just begin in the home, it begins in the kitchen. For more on AFENA, contact Afena.Niger@yahoo.fr Contact the War on Hunger Group at WHG.Chair@oecd.org Afterword: Fatima Boscaro is more than the founder of an active NGO, she is also a firsthand witness to the abusive treatment women and girls in some developing countries can be subjected to. In fact, Ms Boscaro was sold by her family to a wealthy stranger when she was 11 years old, was raped and had children. Unlike many women trapped in the same situation, she managed to escape and later returned to rescue her own 11-year-old daughter who was about to be married the same way she was. Ms Boscaro’s account has just been published as a book by Flammarion, Fatima: Esclave à 11 ans (Slave, aged 11).

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Governments and markets: Time to get serious Rolf Alter, Director, OECD Directorate of Public Governance and Territorial Development

How can we all learn from a crisis? Today, we find ourselves in a disappointing, if not altogether unexpected, predicament. The very governments who took bold and decisive action in the period of the financial crisis 2008-09 to bail out banks and keep financial markets alive now find themselves on the receiving end of severe punishment from financial markets. How could this be? To make matters more frustrating, the rating agencies which came under sharp fire during the crisis for their blinkered support of what proved to be worthless financial products that destroyed the savings of millions of people, are now forcing governments back against a wall. From demanding spending cuts and tax cuts on profits, to forcing hasty privatisations, the effects have been to put at risk the ability of governments to do the job they were elected for. The OECD argued two years ago that we should not return to business as usual, and while financial markets were in intensive care, the critical role governments play as partners in our economic systems was reaffirmed. Now several governments are simply too weak with debt to play that role with any confidence. What if the employment crisis continues, how will countries cope then?

How did this sorry situation come about? Has the revival of governments been that shortlived? Why have the financial markets turned so bitterly on their saviours? Let’s remember: it was barely two years ago, in the wake of the sub-prime disaster, that everyone, from experts to politicians, and right across public opinion, was quick to call for better regulation, better alignment of incentives and more effective enforcement and oversight of public policies. The debt crisis was partly a logical consequence of people spending, or being invited to spend, more than they earned, but it was not that simple. Massive overborrowing on one side of the equation was fed by very lax over-lending on the other. No assets, no income, no job–you could still borrow to “buy” your house. Government regulators in all countries must shoulder their part of the responsibility in this. And so, indeed, must governments, not just in terms of oversight, but because they also borrowed in overleveraged financial markets, exposing their taxpayers to massive indebtedness should the house of cards one day come tumbling down. And tumble it did. But while the initial hangover has been painful for everyone, it has lasted longest for governments and taxpayers.

More or less everywhere, governments have been doing what markets understandably expect and taking drastic measures to deal with the debt crisis: reducing the number of public servants, cutting their salaries, “reviewing” spending programmes, closing

After all the discussion two years ago about a new start, there is every sign that some lessons have not been learned tax niches, postponing public investments in areas such as roads and education, and yes, increasing taxes. And as if that were not enough, governments are now obliged to borrow at unsustainable rates on the financial markets. Alas, ordinary people do not seem to appreciate the very decisive response governments took in the crisis. Their trust in government has actually fallen to lower levels than before. Do they believe governments conceded too much to the whims of private investors and imposed too much of the costs on their own voters? After all, the discussion two years ago about a new start, new paradigms and carrying out the reforms needed to prevent moral hazard, there is

GOVERNANCE

every sign that some lessons have not been learned.

be willing and able to come to a rescue, and soak up the unemployed?

The good news is, it is not too late to put matters right. In fact, we have no choice but to step back and at least examine the course we have taken, and maybe change it altogether if we are to restore lasting confidence in government and financial markets, and avert future crises.

Second, many political leaders who were at the helm in combating the financial crisis are paying the price for their “courageous” action by losing elections, being ejected from government or being forced to rule in unstable minorities. That’s how democracy works, but this kind of political instability could prove costly, and should really be factored into consolidation and debt repayment strategies.

But first, this means answering some searching questions: Were the Keynesian-style rescue packages used by governments the wrong response at the time? The answer to this depends on each country, but in general, should we have focused less on bailouts and stimulus, and more on banking reform, and even calling the bluff of “too big to fail” by ensuring investors took a bigger hit? Have governments simply failed to explain their actions comprehensively to the population, making it clear that there would be no free lunch? Or were they too nervous to question the consensus that restoring full health to our financial markets came first? Have policymakers missed a golden opportunity to reset the balance between markets and governments, as many of them wanted to do at the height of the crisis? Or could it be that policymakers are simply bad managers, not just in handling a crisis, but also now when so-called fiscal consolidation–no, let’s call it austerity–has been allowed to take priority over other public policy goals? There are no easy answers to these questions, nor answers that would apply to every crisis-affected country in the same way. Nevertheless, we must face some facts. First, fiscal consolidation is hurting purchasing power, particularly among those who depend on social funding. Civil servants are being culled too. The upshot is weaker consumer demand, enfeebled public sectors and weaker growth. Will the private sector

Third, the diktat of fiscal retrenchment has put severe strains on public policies. Governments have been reduced to debtors who have to do whatever private creditors–and some central banks–believe is necessary to pay back their debt and regain the benediction of the financial markets. How then can government regain the trust of ordinary people and businesses? There is a risk here of a downward spiral which must be broken. Fourth, the speed and scope of consolidation has sparked a very rich debate about the role of governments, be it in the way public services could be provided by the “third” sector of associations and committed citizens, in public-private partnerships (which are not easy to get right for either side) or even in the withdrawal of governments from education, health or pension systems. Innovation in the public sector has become a “must”, the only “must”. To be sure, a crisis is a terrible opportunity to waste and a good time to reform, but haste can also be the enemy of good reforms. Policymakers faced with tough reform choices really must take the time to ask themselves how streamlining the state in the heat of the crisis can be organised over the medium term. Fifth, financial markets showed how limited they were in 2008-09, then quickly regained their dominant role in society. But have they adapted their post-crisis mindset to become the instruments we need to help us build a

stronger, fairer and cleaner world? It may be too early to say, but judging by recent profit growth and consequent bonus payouts (even in loss-making rescued banks), and the re-emergence of opaque financial products, the disconnect between the financial establishment our societies rely on and the daily needs of the wider world seems greater than ever. In short, policymakers have to be given room to step back and assess the situation. The OECD has to help them provide the evidence they need for evaluating the crisis strategies they have adopted, to see how government can stay in the driving seat, at least as co-pilots. If they do not, and succumb to undeserved short-term pressure from creditors, then the risks are large. For instance, important efforts to address climate change, green growth, biodiversity, social inclusion, poverty and countless other essential public policy objectives that were front-burner policy issues before the crisis will lose steam. No doubt investors will argue that they are innovating, funding research and new products, and spreading development. And many of them are. But this is not about semantics; it is about facts. In particular, the business community, even financial investors, cannot afford governments to be crowded out of the marketplace. So what can be done to defend the public interest? Who else can take up the baton? Governments did their bit during the crisis and are still doing their bit to show how seriously they believe in the market basis of our societies. But they are running out of ladder. It is time for that proven and trusted approach to running successful market economies to re-emerge: governments and markets depend on each other and should support each other too. Both will benefit if they show they are serious about the public interest. For more views by Rolf Alter, see www.oecdobserver.org. Visit www.oecd.org/governance

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

OECD.ORG

Greening the OECD and green considerations guide us in the choice of IT technologies, as well as other goods and services we purchase, in terms of recycling, toxicity and energy efficiency. And we constantly inform staff of the various efforts we are making to transform the OECD into a cleaner, greener and better place to work.

Peter Lübkert, Head of Buildings, Logistics and Services Division, OECD

When it comes to the environment, the OECD does not just tell a good green story to its members; as an institution, we are investing time and resources into practising what we preach. Achieving green growth and moving towards a low-carbon economy requires everyone in society to play their part. The OECD secretariat is no exception. Think of the OECD as a veritable village or a microcosm of our world. It has some 2,500 staff, it consumes goods and services, uses transport, needs catering and sanitation, and routine energy and waste disposal. In short, our organisation leaves a footprint. And in today’s day and age, we must do all we can to ensure that it operates in more environmentally responsible and effective ways. That is why the organisation has been undertaking a range of initiatives to apply good practices and help it reach a lowercarbon, greener path. These initiatives include, for example, reducing energy and water consumption, improving waste collection and recycling, managing our buildings in a more energy-efficient way and optimising the use of IT technologies to reduce travel and transport. Energy

It is an intense job. To get us there, we have set up a wide-ranging reflection group composed of staff members from across the organisation. An action plan has been agreed upon to ensure that environmental matters are reflected, if not “mainstreamed”, in the daily operational work of the OECD. Close involvement of staff and better communication are essential to ensuring that the green action plan has an impact on performance and awareness. One of the major goals we have set for ourselves is to obtain the French environmental standard certificate called the Haute Qualité Environnementale (HQE), a high environmental quality certificate. Having the OECD staff working together to obtain such a standard is as important as top level sponsorship and technical support. But how do we measure our performance? Gathering solid baseline data is essential. For example, under our action plan, we are carrying out a detailed inventory of the OECD’s greenhouse gas emissions, which were estimated at some 8,830 tonnes for buildings and travel in 2010–travel accounts for most of that, with just 1,400 tonnes emitted last year from OECD buildings. This data will be regularly updated and processed in an Environmental Management System (EMS) and used for reporting, both internally and externally. Another important focus of this initiative is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from business travel. The OECD staff travel about 50 million kilometres (30 million miles) per year, including international business journeys and trips to and from work. We

are now exploring how best to manage this in a more environmentally-friendly way, for example, by setting targets and providing tools for managers and staff to better understand and evaluate the carbon footprint of their business trips on a costbenefit basis. We already encourage travel by train where possible, and fewer staff to go on the same trip. Replacing travel with videoconferencing when possible is also being encouraged. Our efforts to green up

An important goal is to reduce gas emissions from the organisation’s business travel the operations of the organisation mirror the important policy work done by the OECD in, say, the new Green Growth Strategy and in areas like energy and technology. We are determined to show that a greener workplace is a more effective and productive one too. None of this effort comes without cost: even the HQE certification has a price tag of some €30,000, in terms of set-up and procedures, for instance, and setting up the Environmental Management System also costs several thousand euros. Then there are hard-to-measure adjustment costs, as people adopt greener workplace and travel habits. In the end, we expect most costs to be offset by savings in terms of a more effective, environmentally-friendly OECD. This ambitious yet indispensable green action plan will require the support and involvement of the entire staff of the OECD. There is no doubting the level of support we have received. In today’s times, it shows we must take a lead in setting the clean standards we advise our members to adopt. It is a policy of our times and a fitting way to celebrate the OECD’s 50th anniversary. For more information, contact Peter.Lubkert@OECD.org For more on France’s HQE certification, see www.assohqe.org

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Japan will bounce back quickly

©REUTERS/Toru Hanai

worst disaster in Japan’s post-war history. To put it in comparison, the 1995 Kobe earthquake–the worst disaster in Japan’s post-war history up to that point–caused 9.6 trillion of damage. The negative impact of the 3/11 disaster was magnified by the disruption of the electricity supply and the problems at the Fukushima plant.

Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD

“[…] On behalf of the OECD, I express our profound sorrow at the enormous loss of life and extend our condolences to all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. At the same time, we admire the courage and resolve of the Japanese people in face of adversity, and we are confident that Japan will emerge from this disaster stronger and better. The Great East Japan Earthquake struck just when Japan’s economy was getting back on track and gaining momentum after a slowdown in the latter part of 2010. By early 2011, exports were accelerating, the unemployment rate was falling and confidence was rising. The damage from the earthquake and tsunami is estimated by the government at 16 to 25 trillion yen–around 3-5% of GDP, making it the

©REUTERS/Toby Melville

The OECD is a “force for good”

David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

“The government’s top priority is reducing the nation’s deficit and returning Britain to strong and sustainable growth. That means the right economic policies at home and creating the right economic environment abroad. As part of our work to get the global economy

In addition to the immediate damage and electricity shortages, the earthquake and tsunami have disrupted supply chains both within Japan and internationally. Tohoku is an important producer of parts and components in a number of industries, including autos. Even Japanese auto factories as far away as the UK have been forced to cut production in the wake of the disaster. These negative factors will combine to reduce output in this quarter. The decline will not be near the 20% drop in the wake of the Lehman shock in 2008, but it will be significant nonetheless. It is important to stress that with very little data available since the 3/11 disaster, economic projections are exceptionally difficult and the error margins are large. But we are already seeing signs of reconstruction spending that will drive Japan forward, including investment by firms and households. If we look back to Kobe in 1995, business investment in the Hyogo prefecture had risen by 18% two quarters after the earthquake, lifting business investment

back on its feet, the UK will continue to champion the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It’s one of the world’s major international economic organisations and a force for good in building the intellectual and political case for open markets. Today, I welcomed its secretary-general, Angel Gurría, to No 10 Downing Street. Over the last five years, he has revitalised the OECD and reinforced its role as a world leader in analytical and policy advice. And on the occasion of his visit to London, I congratulated the secretarygeneral on the OECD’s 50th anniversary. The UK was one of the founding members of the OECD in 1961. The last 50 years have seen enormous growth in living standards in

nationwide by 4%. Similarly, investment in housing was 54% higher. And of course, the government has an important role to play in rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the earthquake and tsunami, and this will be an important driver of growth. Looking back again at the Kobe earthquake, government investment in Hyogo prefecture in the third quarter of 1995 rose by 21% on a quarter-onquarter basis–116% at an annual rate–resulting in a 6% rise nationwide. We know that the current government is capable of a similarly rapid response. But this time, there is one significant difference compared to the Kobe earthquake. In 1995, the government budget deficit was less than 5% of GDP compared to around 9% in 2010. And government debt was 86% of GDP, compared to almost 200% at present. This time, reconstruction spending will have to be combined with efforts to improve the fiscal situation, which has become an important risk for Japan. […]” Extract from remarks by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, Tokyo, 21 April 2011. For the full 1,300 word speech, see www.oecd.org/speeches

all regions of the world, and the OECD has played a major role in fostering, supporting and sustaining that growth. I believe the OECD has a vital to role to play in today’s world economy. Through its engagement with the world’s emerging as well as developed economies, the OECD has the experience and the commitment to deliver on its declared aim: to promote ‘better policies for better lives’ in its member states and in the wider world.” This statement was delivered 16 March 2011. See www.oecd.org/speeches

OECD.ORG

Recent speeches by Angel Gurría Harmony and dissonance in international law 25 March 2011 Remarks delivered at the annual meeting of the American Society of International Law, Washington D.C, US. 21st century multilateralism: The OECD in a G20 world 24 March 2011 Remarks delivered at the Center for Global Development, Washington D.C, US.

For a complete list of speeches and statements, including those in French and other languages, go to www.oecd.org/speeches The roots of jobless growth 9 May 2011 Remarks delivered at the conference, Jobs, Growth and Values: Creating Opportunities for New Generations, Milan, Italy. Building a fairer future: The role of social policy 2 May 2011 Statement made at the meeting of the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Committee at ministerial level, Paris, France. Joining forces against corruption: G20 business & government 28 April 2011 Closing remarks delivered at the G20/OECD conference, Joining Forces against Corruption: G20 Business and Government, Paris, France. OECD and Russia: Working together for a stronger world economy 25 April 2011 Lecture at the Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia. Celebrating 50 years of OECD-BIAC 7 April 2011 Remarks delivered at the BIAC General Assembly Business Roundtable, Budapest, Hungary. Maintaining Momentum: OECD Perspectives on Policy Challenges in Chile 4 April 2011 Remarks delivered at the launch of the publication, Santiago, Chile.

A better global governance: What is at stake? 22 March 2011 Remarks delivered at the China Sciences and Humanities Forum in Beijing, China. China: New era of opening up 20 March 2011 Remarks delivered at the China Development Forum, Beijing, China. Building a high-quality teaching profession 17 March 2011 Remarks delivered at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, New York, US. OECD at 50: Better policies for better lives 16 March 2011 Opening Keynote address at the London School of Economics and Political Science Seminar, London, UK. Women: the future of our economies? 8 March 2011 Remarks delivered for the 100th Anniversary of the International Women’s Day, Paris, France. Benefits and challenges of a long-term perspective in financial activities: Making the most of capital flows 18 February 2011 Remarks delivered at the Eurofi High Level Seminar, Paris, France.

Fighting against bid rigging 13 January 2011 Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the guidelines for Fighting Bid Rigging in Public Procurement between the OECD, the CFC and the IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico. 50th anniversary of the OECD 13 December 2010 Remarks delivered at the Elysée Palace, Paris, France. United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) 10 December 2010 Statement made at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico. Education: PISA 2010 results 7 December 2010 Remarks delivered at the presentation of the PISA 2010 results, Washington D.C, US. How to improve integrity and corporate governance in Latin America 3 December 2010 Remarks delivered at the 20th Ibero-American Summit, Mar del Plata, Argentina.

New ambassadors 7 March Berglind Ásgeirsdóttir took up her duties as the new ambassador for Iceland, replacing Thorir Ibsen. 2 February Marten Kokk took up his duties as the first ambassador for Estonia to the OECD, following the accession of Estonia.

OECD Roundtable on Sustainable Growth 10 February 2011 Session remarks delivered in Helsinki, Finland.

24 January Raul Saez took up his duties as the first ambassador for Chile to the OECD, following the accession of Chile.

Stability and growth: What role for EU cohesion policy? 1 February 2011 Remarks delivered at the EU Cohesion Forum, Brussels, Belgium.

18 January Judith LaRocque took up her duties as the new ambassador for Canada, replacing Paul Henri Lapointe.

Challenges and opportunities for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2011 24 January 2011 Remarks delivered at the III International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean, Paris, France.

16 November Andrej Rant took up his duties as the first ambassador for Slovenia to the OECD, following the accession of Slovenia. 1 October Stefan Flückiger took up his duties as the new ambassador for Switzerland, replacing Eric Martin.

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

Calendar highlights Please note that many of the OECD meetings mentioned are not open to the public or the media and are listed as a guide only. All meetings are in Paris unless otherwise stated. For a comprehensive list, see the OECD website at www.oecd.org/media/upcoming, which is updated regularly. APRIL 13

14-15

Internal Control and Internal Audit: Ensuring Public Sector Integrity and Accountability, OECD 50th Anniversary event, organized by the Institut Français de l’Audit et du Contrôle Interne (IFACI), the French Chapter of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) with the OECD. US and Europe Tax Planning Strategies conference, OECD Center, Paris, France.

26-28 e-Gov Africa Forum 2011: “Governance, service delivery and democracy through the use of ICTs”, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 26-27

27-28

NEPAD-OECD ministerial conference, “Africa: Accelerating the pace of reform by mobilising infrastructure and agricultural investment”, organised by the NEPADOECD Africa Investment Initiative, Dakar, Senegal. Joining Forces against Corruption: G20 Business and Government, G20-OECD conference organised by the French Presidency of the G20 and the OECD.

28-29 OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Steering Committee and Special OECD Council Session, to be addressed by Yukiya Amano. Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. 30

World Conference on Sport and Environment, Doha, Qatar.

11-13

Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies: Equity, Development and Well-Being, Latin American Conference, Mexico City, Mexico.

28-29 Internet Economy: Generating Innovation and Growth, high-level meeting organised by the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry.

23-27

OECD Week: OECD 50th Anniversary Forum and Ministerial Council Meeting.

25-27

International Transport Forum on Transport and Society, Leipzig, Germany.

26-27

Financial Literacy: Partnering to Turn Financial Literacy into Action, conference organised by the OECD Project on Financial Education and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), Toronto, Canada.

26-27

G8 summit, Deauville, France.

31-1/6

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, Hamilton, Bermuda.

30/5-1/6 Broadening Opportunities for Development, ABCDE 2011 conference, organised by the World Bank and the Swedish government. JUNE 6-7

OECD-US Council for International Business, tax conference on the OECD’s new international taxation initiatives. Washington D.C, US.

6-9

The International Economic Forum of the Americas—a Changing Economic Order: New Realities, New Models, Montreal, Canada.

MAY 2

9-13

Building a Fairer Future: the Role for Social Policy, OECD Social Ministerial Meeting and Policy Forum. United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey.

15-17

40 Years of Chemical Safety at OECD: Planning for the Next Decade, organised by the OECD Environment Directorate.

Tax reform: challenges in designing competitive tax systems, conference held within the framework of the OECD 50th Anniversary.

JULY-AUGUST 4-5/7

Europe and Asia Strategies (EAST) Forum, organised by Unicredit, Rome, Italy.

6-8/7

New Directions in Economics and Welfare II, conference organised by the United Kingdom Open University and OECD Statistics Directorate.

18-19/7 Aid for Trade Global Review (World Trade Organization), Geneva, Switzerland. 22-26/8 Ecocity World Summit 2011, Montreal, Canada. SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 12-13/9 Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy, organised by the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. 13-14/10 G20 finance ministers meeting, Paris, France. 25-26/10 Making Water Reform Happen, OECD Global Forum on the Environment organised by the OECD Environment Directorate. 2-4/11 World Pension Summit, with the participation of the OECD. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 3-4/11 G20 Summit, Cannes, France.

Specialfocus Special anniversary focus

Canada and the OECD 50 years of progress

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MANY OF US BELIEVE THAT COOPERATION CAN REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY.

Special Anniversary Focus June 2011

OECD and Canada : Celebrating 50 years of co-operation Judith A. LaRocque, Canadian Ambassador to the OECD

For a better future Donald Johnston, Secretary-General of the OECD, 1996-2006

Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy Interview with James M.Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Canada

50 years of productive partnership William R. White, Chair, OECD Economic Development and Review Committee

Innovation: Opportunities without frontiers

Education: Bridging the classroom divide

Fisheries: The lessons of the Grand Banks

Bench strength: Winter Olympics 2010

A labour market with few wrinkles

50 years of trade and co-operation: Work in progress Ken Ash, Director, OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate

Oil sands: Full of energy?

Canada and the OECD 50 Years of Progress Cover by Design Factory

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Canada and the OECD

Innovation, p.46

Education, p.50

Fisheries, p.52

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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OECD and Canada: Celebrating 50 years of co-operation

©DFAIT

Judith A. LaRocque, Canadian Ambassador to the OECD

The OECD allows policymakers to come together to identify best practices that shape our public policies. It allows us to compare and benchmark our performance, and learn from top performers. By participating in the OECD peer review process, we benefit from frank discussion among equals on our accomplishments and shortfalls in a variety of areas, from the economy to development policies. The objective and credible analysis provided by the OECD strengthens these discussions. Overall, Canada’s socio-economic performance is strong compared with the OECD. However, in order to improve further, we need to know where others are doing better and to learn how they are achieving these results.

On the occasion of the OECD’s 50th anniversary, Canada looks forward to playing an active role in shaping its next 50 years. As we go forward, the public policy challenges we face will increase in complexity, number and impact. The OECD can do much to continue to help us obtain better outcomes for all citizens of the world.

©OECD

As one of the 19 founding members of the OECD, Canada has greatly benefited from and contributed to the OECD over the past 50 years. For instance, Canada’s experience with sound fiscal management serves as an example for other OECD countries. Likewise, Canada’s success at maximising educational outcomes for students makes our country a leader in OECD work on education.

Canada’s contributions extend beyond sharing our policy experience. Several prominent Canadians have held leading roles at the OECD. Canadian Donald Johnston was the first non-European to serve as secretary-general. Canadians currently chair several important OECD committees and working parties, including the Economic Development and Review Committee. Canada has hosted many important OECD meetings, including the first-ever ministerial meeting on e-commerce and the launch of the revised Jobs Strategy in 2006. Canada has also played a prominent role in helping the OECD to strengthen its relations with global players.

Parliament Hill, Ottawa

OECD Conference Centre, Chateau de la Muette, Paris

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Canada and the OECD

For a better future Two days later the US followed suit, and by 30 September when the OECD officially opened for business, 17 countries had officially ratified, with the European Commission participating as well. Three more countries, including Italy, officially joined in subsequent

The developed world, with Canada very much in the vanguard, recognised the unique value that an enlarged OEEC would offer to a larger constituency months, and Japan became a member in 1964. Today, the OECD has 34 member countries, and has strong relations with scores of other countries around the world, including major emerging markets. Donald Johnston, Secretary-General of the OECD, 1996-2006

This year we are celebrating the 50 anniversary of a remarkable organisation which has brought a huge and, in many ways, immeasurable impact to the economic and social development not only of its members, but of the world community of nations. th

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, better known as the OECD, was forged from the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) charged with the administration of the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was a historic achievement, even today not sufficiently appreciated, in that it not only buried forever the brutal military record of western Europe, but replaced it with a common and mutually supportive economic space among former enemies. The OEEC was a limited forum for intergovernmental co-operation in all areas of public policy, supported by a skilled secretariat and committee network of unprecedented reach and quality. After 14 years of extraordinary accomplishment in a European context, the developed world, with Canada very much in the vanguard, recognised the unique value that an enlarged OEEC would offer to a larger constituency. There were some voices of resistance, notably among a few smaller countries, who wished to preserve the old European organisation. But others felt that the OEEC had to spread its wings, to become the OECD, with an ambitious, more global, reach. The OECD is the only living international legacy of the Marshall Plan, except of course for Europe itself. A paragraph in the preamble to the OECD Convention reads as follows: “Recognising that the economic recovery and progress of Europe to which their participation in the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (the predecessor of the OECD) has made a major contribution, have opened new perspectives for strengthening that tradition and applying it to new tasks and broader objectives.” Thus was born the OECD, with Canada becoming the first country to deposit its ratified signature of the Convention on 10 April 1961.

It is timely to recall the aims of the organisation set forth in Article 1 of the Convention, and to do a stocktaking in general terms as to where we have met those aims and where we have fallen short. They were: (a) to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment and a rising standard of living in member countries, while maintaining financial stability, and thus to contribute to the development of the world economy; (b) to contribute to sound economic expansion in member as well as non-member countries in the process of economic development; and (c) to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis in accordance with international obligations.” The OECD was seen as a government instrument for keeping an equilibrium between economic growth, social stability and political stability, all three of which must be achieved through good governance in order to deliver the economic and social progress for which the OECD was created. The Ottawa Conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of the OECD on 2 June 2011 offers participants the opportunity of doing what John Maynard Keynes counselled: “Examine the present in light of the past for the purposes of the future.” How well has the OECD fulfilled its role over this half-century and what does the future hold? We believe that conference participants and other observers will conclude that the role of the OECD, with its committee system, the creation of soft law enforced by peer review of performance among members and the comparison of best practices, which has served the membership so well in the past, will be the way of the future in this rapidly evolving global community. A challenge will be to manage these processes in a much enlarged international community and, quite probably, a growing OECD. References See www.oecd.org/about Clarke, Rory and Lyndon Thompson (2011), “A majestic start: How the OECD was won”, in OECD Yearbook 2011, Paris, available at www.oecdobserver.org/yearbook2011

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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BETTER POLICIES FOR BETTER LIVES

OECD Factbook

OECD Factbook is the OECD’s annual flagship that presents key data across the full subject range of OECD work. Each variable is presented in a two-page spread, with definitions, overviews of recent trends, comments on comparability, and indications on where to go for more information on the left-hand side, and tables and graphs showing the actual data on the right-hand side. In some cases, more than one page of charts and graphs are shown. All of the charts and graphs include StatLinks, URLs linking to Excel® spreadsheet files containing the underlying data.

To view the OECD Factbook online, go to: www.OECD-iLibrary.org/factbook To order book and USB memory stick versions, go to our online bookshop and search for “factbook”. www.oecd.org/bookshop

To get a version for your iPhone, go to the App Store. Blackberry and other smartphone versions available at: www.oecd.org/publications/factbook

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Canada and the OECD

Canada’s economy Interview with James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Government of Canada

moderating somewhat over the medium term. The OECD’s latest Economic Outlook indicates that Canada will perform well compared with other G7 countries in 2011, and the IMF expects growth in Canada to be among the strongest in the G7 this year and next. Nevertheless, risks to the outlook remain, primarily related to issues originating outside Canada’s borders.

©Government of Canada

What would you highlight as being Canada’s underlying economic strengths? Canada’s growth in real income per capita was one of the highest in the OECD over the last decade. Furthermore, Canada has one of the highest employment rates in the OECD. Strong economic growth reflects strong macroeconomic fundamentals, including sound fiscal and monetary policy, a prudent financial framework, trade openness, and a competitive tax system as well as a highly skilled and educated workforce, with Canada having the highest proportion of the adult population with post-secondary education in the OECD.

“A key challenge that remains is to improve productivity performance”

OECD Observer: As the world emerges from a protracted crisis, how would you characterise the current state of the Canadian economy? Mr Flaherty: The Canadian economy weathered the global recession better than most industrialised countries, and the economic recovery is well underway with six consecutive quarters of growth through the end of 2010. Growth over the recovery has been underpinned by a strong rebound in consumer and business expenditures, reflecting the significant stimulus provided by Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The improving global economic environment has also lifted commodity prices significantly since early 2009, boosting Canada’s terms of trade, incomes and investment. The rebound in real output in Canada has been mirrored by a solid recovery in the labour market. More Canadians are working today than before the recession began, and the unemployment rate has declined to 7.6% in April 2011 from a peak of 8.7% in August 2009. Moreover, almost 90% of these new jobs have been in relatively high-wage industries, with close to 85% being full-time jobs. The Canadian unemployment rate is currently more than 1 percentage point below that of the US, and has been below it since October 2008–the first time this has occurred since the early 1980s. Canada’s strong labour market performance is, in turn, translating into solid income growth, fuelling a self-sustaining recovery in private demand and allowing an orderly unwinding of stimulus measures. Looking ahead, the most recent survey of private sector economists showed they expect the recovery to continue in 2011 with growth

And its weaknesses? A key challenge that remains is to improve productivity performance. With population ageing, boosting productivity growth will be crucial to continue to increase living standards. Measures taken by the government of Canada since 2006 to promote long-term economic growth include lower taxes on business investment, the elimination of import tariffs on manufacturing inputs and machinery and equipment, historic investment in infrastructure, and increased support for research. Going forward, the first priority should be to return to balanced budgets, which is critical to prevent backsliding and will allow further progress on the government’s policy framework. The OECD’s 2010 Economic Survey of Canada highlighted healthcare costs as an issue of concern for long-term public finances. Canada also faces other cost pressures, not least from ageing societies. What do you think should be done to address these concerns? In Canada, the responsibility for funding, coverage and organisation of healthcare services largely rests with provincial governments. There will nevertheless be a need for the federal and provincial governments to work together to control healthcare costs and secure stable long-term funding arrangements that create the right incentives for cost-containment. In this context, the OECD will have a critical role to play in helping its members meet this important challenge through providing analysis on the international experience in this area. In addition to returning to balanced budgets over the medium term, the best way for Canada to address the economic and fiscal challenges posed by an ageing population is to focus on policies that foster productivity growth and promote the efficient allocation of resources. In this respect, significant progress has been made since 2006 which should help improve both Canada’s productivity and labour market performance in the future. Moreover, the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan will continue to promote longOECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

FOCUS term, sustainable growth by supporting key drivers of economic growth: innovation, education and training, and investment. The global economy is transforming, with the emergence of new, powerful markets. At the same time there are social, resource and environmental challenges to confront. As a major player on the world stage, how is Canada addressing these issues and what priorities would you underline? It is clear that emerging market and developing economies have become a more significant force in the global economy, and that the dynamics on the international stage are changing.

50 years of productive partnership William R White, Chair, OECD Economic Development and Review Committee

How important is OECD membership to Canada? Canada views the OECD as an important source of ideas, standards and norms that shape policies and strengthen the functioning of the global economy, particularly their analysis of the impact and importance of structural reforms to enhance potential output. OECD instruments such as the Model Tax Convention, the Export Credit Arrangement and Freedom of Investment work have also helped create a level playing field. Canada appreciates the technical expertise and analytical work of the OECD. For 50 years the OECD has provided useful policy advice on how to sustain Canadian economic prosperity. Of particular interest to Canada is the OECD’s work on the development of statistical sources that allow for international comparisons. OECD benchmarking helps us rate our economic performance against our peers and learn from the experiences of others.

Visit www.fin.gc.ca

©BIS

Canada is an active participant in forums that promote global economic co-operation, such as the OECD and G20. One of Canada’s top priorities is working with its international partners to find cooperative solutions to address large, persistent imbalances, which continue to threaten prospects for strong, sustainable and balanced global growth. Canada plays an important role in facilitating these discussions, particularly with its work on the G20 Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth, and the recent agreement on a series of indicative guidelines. Helping to foster a common understanding of the problems facing the global economy will provide more structure in global efforts to address these issues.

Why do some businesses, organisations, economies and even countries succeed in achieving their objectives while others do not? Important insights are provided if we treat each of these entities as a complex adaptive system, subject to the same processes as biological evolution. Recent literature suggests that the secret of success is a capacity to master the current operating environment while maintaining a capacity to adapt to changes in that environment. Both Canada and the OECD have been remarkably successful in both regards, due in part to the values they share. One fundamentally important shared belief is in the efficiency of competitive markets, not only to provide currently demanded goods and services but also to adapt to changing requirements. However, the OECD and Canada also share the view that markets must work within a framework of co-operatively determined rules and agreed norms about what constitutes “fair” behaviour. As the Canadian novelist, Margaret Atwood, recently pointed out in the CBC Massey Lectures, the need for “fairness” seems to have been hard-wired by evolution into our genetic material. It constitutes a necessary condition for trust and the ongoing co-operation needed if both individuals and countries are to adapt successfully to a fast-changing world.

Canada seems well adapted to the world in which it currently operates. In various polls, it consistently ranks at or near the top as “the best county in which to live”. Its long history of democracy, strong property rights, good governance and a reputation for fairness surely play a big role in this positive assessment. Furthermore, its economic performance has, in recent decades, allowed it to provide one of the world’s highest standards of living as well as employment opportunities sufficient to attract an unusually high number of immigrants from all over the world. Canada’s capacity to adapt to potential future changes is attested by its successful adaptations in the past. Whereas it was once almost entirely dependent on commodity production, not least farming, high-tech

The OECD and Canada share the view that markets must work within a framework of co-operatively determined rules and agreed norms about what constitutes “fair” behaviour manufacturing and services now constitute a much larger share of both production and exports. Whereas trade with the US was once totally dominant, new markets are being established in emerging market economies, not least in Asia. Whereas Canada’s financial markets were once very tightly controlled, they have now been largely deregulated, though subject to careful supervision. Looking forward, the generally high quality of Canada’s education system, and the variety and qualifications of its many skilled immigrants give further grounds to believe in Canada’s capacity to cope with changes arising from an uncertain and evolving world economy. For 50 years now, Canada and the OECD have interacted in ways that have supported Canada’s successful economic record. But it is important to note that, while Canada has benefitted from the help of the OECD, the OECD has also benefitted from the help of Canada. As to the flow of benefits to Canada, virtually all of the OECD’s work has been of material use to a wide variety of governmental and private agencies, as well as to NGOs. Perhaps highest on the list would be the OECD databases and statistical sources that allow cross-country comparisons. Next would be the research work that tries to establish “best practice” with respect to government and other policies, and the (process of) negotiations that take place at the OECD to set global norms and standards. Peer review, to share cross country experiences and to build trust in the negotiating process, is also a procedure from which Canada has benefited enormously over the years. As chair of the OECD Economic Development and Review Committee, which comments on the macroeconomic and structural policies of individual countries, I perhaps know more about this aspect of OECD peer review than any other. Generally speaking, the OECD’s recommendations with respect to macroeconomic policies have not

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Canada and the OECD

been much different from those which the Canadian authorities have chosen to implement. This is certainly true of the process of fiscal consolidation which began in the late 1980s and was intensified through the 1990s. Canada’s success in that regard is now being closely studied around the world by countries whose fiscal sustainability is increasingly threatened. As for structural policies, many of the liberalising reforms that have been carried out in Canada were consistent with OECD recommendations. That said, a number of suggested reforms having to do with labour markets, the environment, and other areas have not found total favour with the Canadian authorities. In this context, the need to find some accommodation with authorities in the US has often played a central role. At the very least, however, OECD initiatives continue to spark useful debate within Canada about important policy issues. As noted above, Canada has contributed as much to the OECD (and the global community it supports) as the OECD has contributed to Canada. This support has been provided in many ways. In addition to funding, where Canada is the seventh largest contributor to the organisation, Canada’s main support for the work of the OECD has come in the form of expertise. Over 200 committees assemble at the OECD, and Canada has provided knowledgeable (and sometimes outstanding) delegates to most, if not all of them. Indeed, at present, 17 of these committees (including my own) are chaired by Canadians. Since these committees are at the centre of negotiations concerning international standards of various sorts, and often the research underlying them, this contribution is not inconsequential. Finally, it must be noted that Canadians have been chosen to fill many more staff positions at the OECD than might have been expected, given the relative size of Canada’s population. This attests to their competence as well as the traditional interest of Canadians in playing the role of the “honest broker” in international affairs. The fact that Donald Johnston, the previous secretary general of the OECD, was Canadian is, of course, a bonus. The future holds many challenges: the need for a sustainable recovery from the recent financial and economic crisis; the need for institutional changes to reflect the growing relative importance of emerging market economies; and the need for increased attention to environmental degradation. The OECD will continue to be there to help Canada meet these challenges and Canada, hopefully, will continue to be there to support the OECD. See www.oecd.org/canada See other articles by William R White at www.oecdobserver.org

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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Innovation: Opportunities without frontiers Waterloo, Ontario is the headquarters of Research in Motion (RIM), the manufacturer of the Blackberry smartphone. In just three years, the Canadian firm’s profits had grown by 84% and its revenues by 77%. The famous handset, which is used widely by OECD staff, is known not only for its versatility, but for its clever branding. Innovative thought went into both the technology and the marketing. “Some say that Canadians are not risk-takers,” says Ilse Treurnicht, CEO of MaRS, a Toronto-based innovation centre. “Frankly, I don’t buy it. We certainly do not see that at MaRS, not among younger entrepreneurs, many of whom are new Canadians.” MaRS (“Medical and Related Sciences”–the acronym stuck even after it ventured into other areas of innovation) is a public-private corporation offering advice, customer market intelligence and seed capital to entrepreneurs. Established in 2000, MaRS is a not-forprofit charity created to stimulate innovation in the life sciences, digital media and ICT, clean technology, healthcare and “socialpurpose” enterprises. To date, it has worked with more than 1,300 Canadian firms. But for many experts, Canada ought to be much more fertile ground for innovative businesses. After all, entrepreneurs face few hurdles in setting up a business, while bank credit is relatively easy to obtain. Overall tax rates are also among the lowest of the major OECD countries. “Canadian businesses have been very profitable, more so than their US counterparts,” says Ms Treurnicht, and cites a CCA (Council of Canadian Academies)/Nicholson report. “And our resources have been in strong demand.”

©REUTERS/Chris Wattie

Canada wants to position itself as a leader with fresh ideas, not least on the international policy front. During the 1990s, the Internet confounded policymakers, who were trying to decide how such matters as taxation should be treated in global online commercial transactions. In 1998, Canada hosted a major OECD conference at Ottawa. That meeting laid the groundwork for today’s policy consensus: remove the barriers to e-commerce to allow Internet to flourish internationally.

Canada is home to some well-known technology companies, but is the country innovative enough? The picture is mixed, with resisting complacency being among the challenges to face. When the business magazine Forbes cast off from US shores two years ago to seek out, for the first time, non-US firms to include in its list of the world’s 100 fastest growing companies, its first sighting was not the ports of Europe or Asia or South America, but the northern bank of the St Lawrence River.

But at home, it must do more to live up to its innovative billing. There is certainly no dearth of intellectual resources in Canada, and its spending on higher education as a percentage of GDP surpasses that of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Businesses too are keen to reap the harvest; their investment in higher education is above the OECD average. In general, Canadians are highly educated. Over 55% of the population between the ages of 25 and 34 has attained a tertiary-level education, as has 45% between the ages of 35 and 45. Why then, with this low-hanging fruit in scientific competence, entrepreneurship and federal support, did the government, in its presentation of the 2010 budget, state that Canada lagged behind other advanced economies in terms of innovation?

“Our biggest barrier may be complacency,” says Ms Treurnicht. “National growth fuelled by an abundance of natural resource assets does not require us to be innovative leaders in a highly competitive global environment. Perhaps the need to innovate for survival and prosperity has not been a burning platform for Canadian businesses.” One thing that fledgling businesses lack, she says, is venture capital. “The limited availability of risk capital at all stages of the growth cycle often impedes our ability to grow global companies from Canada.” OECD figures support her. Among seven countries studied in 2008 “Some say that Canadians (Australia, Canada, Denmark, are not risk-takers. Frankly, I Finland, the Netherlands, Norway don’t buy it” – Ilse Treurnicht and the UK), venture capital for Canadian start-ups, 0.08% of GDP, was the lowest of the group. This may be part of the reason that, despite the ease of entry, new firms made up only 8% of all registered firms in Canada in 2007, compared to 18% in the UK. In research and development (R&D), which is a commonly used, though by no means complete, measure of innovation, Canada lags too. Spending by governments and businesses on R&D is known as BERD (“business expenditures on research and development”). In Canada, BERD accounted for just over 1% of GDP in 2008, below the OECD average of 1.6%. Productivity effect But does BERD impact on labour productivity? The OECD believes it does. “Productivity gains and GDP growth are strongly linked to new technologies and investment in a wide range of intellectual assets,” says Andrew Wyckoff, Director of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry. “The advent of personal computers, the worldwide web and its offspring, and broadband communications networks, all play a key role driving efficiency gains, new business models and new firm creation.” The May 2010 ministerial report on the OECD Innovation Strategy found that investment in intangible assets, including BERD, raised labour productivity in Austria, Finland, Sweden, the UK and the US by as much as a full percentage point. The slump in productivity and the widening gap between US and Canadian performance prompted the Canadian government in its 2010 budget to undertake a review of federal support for R&D, to improve opportunities for new businesses and to stimulate innovation.

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Canada and the OECD

“We need to recognise that young high-growth firms create the majority of new jobs in modern economies,” says Ms Treurnicht. “These firms also catalyse and spur the creation of future industries. Governments need to differentiate the needs of these gazelles within public policy frameworks designed to serve the general SME population, to ensure fertile conditions for their growth. Because these young firms also represent important sources of new ideas, entrepreneurial talent and future growth for more established firms, the private sector needs to invest in them and in the ecosystem that fosters their growth.” Most R&D is carried out by big companies; the OECD Innovation Strategy noted that some 700 firms account for almost half of all R&D expenditure in the world. Canada is no exception: just 10 companies conducted a third of all R&D over the last two decades, and yet 98% of Canadian firms are small and medium-size businesses (SMEs) which employ some 5 million people, about half of the private sector. Unleashing this potential is one of the government’s aims set out in the 2010 budget. To do this, it created the SME Innovation Commercialisation Program, which will allot CAN$40 million over two years to 20 projects and organise regional trade shows where SMEs can showcase their innovations. Canadian SMEs are eager. Compared to big Canadian firms, which earmark only 1% of their revenue to innovation, a limited number of innovative smaller firms may exceptionally invest far more than that. But for innovation to take off, this spending should not all be targeted at R&D, which is only one key part of the innovation equation.

Business enterprise expenditure on R&D (BERD) % of GDP 4

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Source: OECD

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

FOCUS Indeed, some innovative firms undertake no R&D at all. â&#x20AC;&#x153;R&D is a powerful driver of innovation,â&#x20AC;? says Mr Wyckoff, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the only one. Globalisation has changed the way economies transform knowledge into market valueâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;the definition of innovation. That process now takes place increasingly outside the lab. New approaches to design, marketing and organisations are â&#x20AC;&#x153;R&D is a powerful driver of powerful drivers of growth.â&#x20AC;? Mr Wyckoff underlines what for the innovation, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the OECD is a key point: innovation only oneâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Andy Wyckoff is about implementing new and better ways of doing things, about how skills, ideas and technology are harnessed to raise productivity and potential. Such â&#x20AC;&#x153;intangible assetsâ&#x20AC;? account for between 5-12% of GDP in some OECD countries.

Ms Treurnicht is not surprised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;New models of innovation increasingly involve collaboration,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They involve collaboration across disciplines, geographic boundaries and even across the cultural divide between the public and private sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of our vast geography, modest population and middle power status in the world, Canadians have a cultural disposition towards collaborative approaches and some experience in building these types of knowledge networks.â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience from which both Canada and its OECD partners will no doubt benefit.

References OECD (2010), The OECD Innovation Strategy: Getting a Head Start on Tomorrow. OECD (2010), Measuring Innovation: A New Perspective?, read at www.oecd.org/innovation/strategy/measuring Public Works and Government Services, Canada (2010), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Review of Federal Support to Research and Development, Expert Panel Consultation Paper,â&#x20AC;? see www.rdreview-examenrd.ca Wyckoff A.(2009), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Innovating a Recoveryâ&#x20AC;?, OECD Observer No. 273, June 2009.

Unfortunately the economic crisis forced many firms to postpone or cancel innovative spending, which risks holding back growth. The CEO of MaRs is nevertheless optimistic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Canada has a small local market,â&#x20AC;? says Ms Treurnicht, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and we have benefitted tremendously from the insatiable US appetite for our new products and services. Given that this market has become sluggish in recent years, Canadians are increasingly looking at new partnerships and new opportunities in emerging, high-growth markets. This will drive more innovation in the future.â&#x20AC;? Innovation thrives in big spaces, and not only within wide geographical borders, but in the global forum of ideas. Companies with wider international contacts innovate more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skills, networks and trading knowledge,â&#x20AC;? says Mr Wyckoff, â&#x20AC;&#x153;are vital to competing efficiently in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy where information travels in real time. Companies increasingly collaborate to reduce the cost and risk of bringing new ideas to market by tapping expertise around the globe.â&#x20AC;?

Council of Canadian Academies (2009), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Innovation and Business Strategy: Why Canada Falls Short, Expert Panel on Business Innovationâ&#x20AC;?.

Order this now! ISBN 978-92-64-08470-4 Order this book at www.oecd.org/ bookshop

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INNOVATION

Business brief

Pierre Lapointe - President - FPInnovations

“Our aim is the optimisation and enhancement of the entire Canadian forestrysector value chain” Could you introduce FPInnovations to us? FPInnovations is an institute bringing together research and development centres from within the Canadian forestry industry (forest operations, wood products, pulp and paper and the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre of Natural Resources Canada). The organisation has some 400 members, employs almost 600 researchers and its Canadian offices are located in Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver. It is one of the world’s leading non-profit making forestry-research institutes. The considerable pool of know-how that the organisation has created enables it to act across four major areas of research: value chain optimisation; the development of solutions for construction

and for living; the creation of new-generation pulp and papers and the development of new energy and chemical products from forest biomass. FPInnovations works closely with more than 60 university laboratories. The research effort is oriented towards the needs of the industry professionals who are members of our institute. The forestry industry is viewed as a “traditional” sector. Could you give us some examples of research projects? The Canadian forestry industry is experiencing a deep-seated transformation with the development of new directions in biotechnology with high added value. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a prime example. This is a renewable, recyclable and abundant nanomaterial extracted from wood fibre from the pulpmanufacturing process. Potential applications include optically reflective films, high-durability varnishes and bio-plastics: fresh opportunities for a wide variety of sectors (aeronautics, space, automotive, textile, etc.). The world’s first commercial-scale demonstration plant with a production capacity of 1 tonne per day of NCC is scheduled to be operational next September. Engineered wood products (cross-laminated panels), a European invention, are used in non-residential buildings on the western coasts of Canada and California (USA) on account of their high degree of earthquake resistance. We have recently developed a fibre which can be transformed into rayon, a potential replacement for cotton. This product is meeting with considerable success in Asia. FPInnovations is exploring solutions for the advancement of the bio-economy in connection with the forest resource. These solutions include the use of lignocellulosic biomass as a bioenergy source and in the production of chemicals. This is proving a very promising field of investigation. What is your strategy with respect to international co-operation? Historically, FPInnovations has worked closely with countries such as Sweden and Finland on account of the similarity of their forests. However, other European countries (France, Germany and Italy) are also special partners.

Co-operation with Asia is increasing due to its economic dynamism and Canada’s presence in the Pacific zone. FPInnovations has offices in China; in Beijing and Shanghai. Latin America is of growing interest for us because the forestry industry there is developing at a tremendous rate. Canada and Chile have worked closely for some time on earthquake-resistant buildings. We are pursuing all avenues of innovation contributing to the transformation of the forestry sector whether from Canada or any other country.

Sponsored by FPInnovations

FOCUS ©REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Education: Bridging the classroom divide

School students with Canada’s prime minister, Stephen Harper

Canadian education enjoys an excellent reputation at home and abroad, thanks to strong performances in such renowned surveys as OECD PISA, which focuses on 15-year-olds. There are several reasons for this success, and as experts from the OECD and Canada explain, reforms that focus on equity and integration all help. But there are challenges too. Social policymakers worry about gaps. Gaps in income distribution, job opportunities and education are warning signs of a fissure opening up in society. One would think that with one of the highest immigrant populations in OECD countries Canadians would be worried about such gaps, especially in education, where immigrant children in many countries struggle, often in vain, to get a foothold. Not a bit. In the 2009 OECD Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA), an evaluation of 15-year-old pupils in 65 countries, including the OECD countries, Canada ranked among the top ten performers in reading, mathematics and science. If such results could be attributed to a high number of academic overachievers, they would still be remarkable, but the fact that all pupils–from the highest to the lowest scorers–contributed to the results highlights the equity of the Canadian educational system, where the gap between the highest and lowest scores was one of the narrowest in any OECD country. Andreas Schleicher, who is special advisor on education policy to the OECD Secretary General and one of the driving forces behind PISA, attributes part of this success to the way Canada handled educational reforms. “The interesting story is how the successful provinces were able to get the main stakeholders on board, teachers and their unions included, and how they got professionals, not bureaucrats, to implement the reforms on the frontline. Significant efforts were devoted to winning over teachers, schools and unions to the vision of reform.”Canada got top marks not only in equity, but

integration as well. Immigrant children in Canada, as elsewhere, tend to struggle during the first five years of their arrival. This is unsurprising, as children have to adapt to a new environment and master new languages. But in Canada, after five years, they shed their chrysalis. Results from the first PISA survey, administered in 2000, show that children who had lived in Canada for less than five years scored 20 points below the OECD average of 478, whereas those who had lived there for more than five years, scored 521. In light of PISA 2000, it was found that a gain or loss of 34 reading points by Canadian pupils was the equivalent of a gain or loss of one year of education. Why the top marks? According to Andrew Parkin, Director General of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), the Canadian educational system (or rather, systems) “makes it easier for immigrants to find their place” in society. Many schools offer adaptation classes, where immigrant children are introduced to French and English, and provinces and territories vigorously encourage immigration. In 2010, Canada welcomed the highest number of immigrants since it became a founding member of the OECD 50 years ago: over 280,000. It also threw open the gates to temporary residents, including some 182,000 foreign students, 28,000 more than five years ago. They now make up 8% of the student body, compared to 4% in 1992. This is no accident. Unlike some countries, Canada is unabashedly wooing foreign students, to stimulate innovation and bolster the economy. According to a government-commissioned study, foreign students enrich the Canadian economy by CAN$6.5 billion. The government is keen to make the prospect of studying in Canada inviting, and so has created the Canadian Experience Class, in which eligible foreign students can apply for permanent residence. Mr Parkin also notes that, in 2010, premiers from all of Canada’s provinces and territories called for renewed action to attract greater numbers of international students.

Immigration can be a prickly subject for politicians in some countries, who either offer a blustery populist rhetoric, blaming high unemployment on immigrants, or, more reasonably, invoke the opportunities for growth its provides. Immigrants may indeed be seeking jobs, or fleeing political instability, or simply trying to rejoin their families. Mr Parkin notes that the profiles of immigrants in Canada differ from those in the US, for example. Whereas most immigrants to the US are economic immigrants from Latin America,

We need to redouble our efforts to ensure that our students remain in the top tier immigrants to Canada are generally well-educated and skilled. The majority (52.7% in 2010) come from Asian countries such as China and Korea, where hard work and academic excellence are strongly encouraged by parents and educators: pupils from both countries topped the OECD PISA poll, for instance. Socio-economic background can be a major determinant to academic success. Pupils from poor families or single-parent households tend to perform less well in school. The ability of a child to overcome these barriers is known as “resilience.” Canadian children are particularly tough, ranking 9th with 40% of pupils considered “resilient” compared to the OECD average of 31%. Success is not due solely to pupils’ determination or parental support. Mr Parkin credits Canada’s success in part to the professionalism of Canadian teachers. And government works to be sure that teachers can fulfill their vocation. The freedom granted to teachers extends to pupils. Unlike some OECD countries, Canada has no policy of “streaming,” by which a child is shepherded down a particular academic track early on, sometimes as early as the age of 11. Academic flexibility continues into tertiary education, what Mr Parkin calls Canada’s “second chance” system. Unlike countries such as the UK, where pupils who drop out of school may languish in unemployment for years, many Canadian drop-outs find jobs. After a few years of working, they decide to study again. Many opt for a local college, which does not require relocating to a big city, and where they can learn a particular skill in a shorter period of time. This brief pause between secondary and post-secondary education may be one reason why foreign undergraduates are generally younger than their Canadian cohorts.

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Canada and the OECD

“If you take Ontario,” says Mr Schleicher, “the province that advanced most, you see how they pursued strategies directly focused on improving the act of teaching. They paid careful and detailed attention to implementation, and gave teachers the opportunity to practice new ideas and learn from their colleagues.” But the findings were not all good news. According to Mr. Parkin, one out of ten Canadian pupils falls below the acceptable reading standard, and girls do significantly better than boys in reading (though the gap is narrowing). Canadian pupils taught in settings where English or French predominated as a minority language fared less well than those where English or French was the dominant language, the PISA surveys showed. Aboriginal Canadians, who Mr Parkin says account for up to 15% of the population in some provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan, lag behind and are more likely to quit school before graduating. This wide-ranging PISA assessment will help the government to target policies aimed at improving the performance of these pupils. Even in those areas where Canada tops the class, Mr Parkin warns against complacency. “While Canada continues to demonstrate strong performance in PISA, many other countries have made significant gains. Canada’s education ministers know that we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to redouble our efforts to ensure that our students remain in the top tier.” Immigrant students may give Canada that edge. It is a truly multicultural country, with one of the highest foreign-born populations in the OECD area. There is less a sense of being an outsider when close to 20% of Canadians are foreign born. “Canadian identity,” says Mr Parkin, “is an identity built on diversity.”

References Visit www.oecd.org/edu OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA): www.pisa.oecd.org OECD (2010), Pathways to Success: How knowledge and skills at age 15 help shape future lives in Canada, in collaboration with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. See news releases at www.cic.gc.ca See Statistics Canada at www.statcan.gc.ca

The 2009 OECD PISA survey was administered to between 5,000 and 10,000 pupils aged 15, from an average of 150 schools from each country. Wanting a more precise assessment of pupils in each of its ten provinces, Canada extended the PISA study to 23,000 students from 10,000 schools.

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

FOCUS ©REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Fisheries: The lessons of the Grand Banks

After environmental and economic turbulence, Canada’s fisheries are being reformed. The sector is now undergoing a renaissance, though challenges remain. The Grand Banks of Newfoundland provided a stable livelihood to island residents for five centuries, making Canada one of the world’s leading fishing economies. By the end of the 20th century, however, the great shoals of cod, which had enriched fishers from round the world, all but vanished from the Grand Banks. As stocks dwindled across the North Atlantic, there were fears that overfishing might drive cod to extinction. On 2 July 1992, the Canadian federal government took action by imposing a moratorium on cod fishing. This led to the singlelargest mass layoff in Canadian history, affecting not only fishers, but employees in processing plants, the wholesale and retail trades and boat construction. Over the next decade, some Newfoundland communities shrank considerably as residents left to seek work in other provinces. Atlantic Canada’s fishing industry was shaken, as were the fishing sectors in other OECD countries. But overfishing of cod had to be stopped. And although a recreational and artisanal fishery now exists on the Grand Banks, with stocks of about 5,500 tonnes, the moratorium on commercial cod fishing remains. But as the cod declined, shrimp and crab flourished, and cod fishers have turned to exploit these species. The OECD estimated that, between 1989 and 1992, the total value of fish landings, including cod, in Newfoundland was about CAN$275 million per year. Fifteen years later, it climbed to CAN$470 million. After adjusting for changes in Canada’s consumer price index, which rose about 40% from 1990

to 2006, the value of fish landings was 20% higher than when cod was king. Atlantic shrimp, crab and lobster belong to the “luxury” category of seafood, the main buyers of which are restaurants, hotels, vacation resorts and casinos around the world. Shellfish alone accounted for over 63% of the value of the Canadian commercial fishery in 2009. Unfortunately, the latest economic crisis did not spare shellfish. From 2007 to 2009, the retail price for lobster fell 50% and snow crab 20%. Prices for other species fared no better; for example, cod harvests lost 47% of their value. The situation was aggravated by the stronger Canadian dollar which lowered margins of exports priced in US dollars (the US is the largest importer of Canadian seafood). The low cost of production from competitors, notably in Asia, helped to keep prices flat. As part of a broader economic stimulus package, the federal government responded with CAN$75 million worth of direct measures, of which CAN$50 million went to developing means to assure the sustainability of lobster production, Canada’s highest value fishery. Provincial governments also came to the rescue, injecting over CAN$4 million in sustainability and aquaculture projects. Yet even before the crisis, the government was intent on rejuvenating the industry. In 2006, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) began updating its Fisheries Act, which first came into force over a century ago. Renewal initiatives are now in place to update fisheries management policies, and to give fishers greater freedom and management responsibilities. Along with the updated law, the government created the Sustainable Fisheries Framework, a body of precautionary measures to protect

ecosystems in the management of Canadian fisheries. The framework comprises reference points and stock status zones (“healthy”, “cautious” and “critical”), harvest strategies and procedures for decision making, while taking uncertainty and risk into account. “Canada’s Sustainable Fisheries Framework provides the basis for ensuring Canadian fisheries are conducted in a manner that supports conservation and sustainable use,” says Nadia Bouffard, Director

Renewal initiatives are now in place to update fisheries management policies, and to give fishers greater freedom and management responsibilities General for Fisheries and Aboriginal Policy in the DFO. “Combined with reforms to socio-economic policies and initiatives, the Sustainable Fisheries Framework is a key instrument in developing environmentally sustainable fisheries that also support economic prosperity in the industry and fishing communities.” The awareness that marine habitats and biodiversity are critical to sustainable fisheries prompted the federal government to designate seven Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including the Bowie Seamount, an undersea volcano in the northwest Pacific described by the DFO as an “oasis” of biological diversity. Under the recent Health of the Oceans agenda, a battery of 22 environmental and scientific initiatives will add nine more MPAs by 2015, and strengthen international cooperation in the Gulf of Maine and the Arctic. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is also developing a national policy on the management of fish caught unintentionally while trawling other species, known as bycatch, and discards, which include bycatch and targeted species caught in excess of quotas. This policy is in line with the codes of conduct and guidelines set down by the Food and Agriculture Organization, and builds on practices already established under the National Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-Seabirds) and the NPOA-Sharks. International co-operation through organisations such as the OECD is becoming crucial. Seafood products are highly traded, with some 40% worldwide entering international markets. In 2010 Canada exported more than CAN$3.4 billion worth of fish and seafood products, and imported CAN$2.2 billion. Canada has also signed memorandums of understanding with China, Greenland, Norway, Portugal, the Russian Federation and Spain to forge stronger ties in research and economic development, and in the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities.

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Canada and the OECD

has almost tripled to close to CAN$1 billion a year.” The industry supports some 14,000 jobs. “It is an increasingly important part of the Canadian economy, providing valuable employment opportunities in coastal and rural communities, and contributing to the world’s food supply.” What about climate change? According to the OECD Fisheries Review, warmer waters in the Arctic are likely to result in a decline of northerly species such as capelin and Greenland halibut. The loss of Arctic cold water species would be a blow to Canadian and global biodiversity, and to the communities that rely on those species. Warmer temperatures, less sea ice cover and more sunlight as a result could boost stocks of cod, pollock, herring and flatfish. Such regime shifts have occurred in the past and can be long-lasting. With foresight, ecofriendly management policies and international co-operation, Canada has cause to be optimistic. The lessons of the Grand Banks will not be forgotten.

References See Fisheries and Oceans Canada website at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/index-eng.htm Ma, Paul (2009), “Canada’s Fishing Communities: An Overview of Current Challenges and Opportunities”, presentation made at the OECD Rural Policy Conference, Quebec City, Canada, 13-15 October 2009. See Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage website at www.heritage.nf.ca/home.html OECD (2010), Review of Fisheries in OECD Countries 2009: Polices and Summary Statistics. OECD (2010), “Net losses”, in OECD Observer No. 279, May 2010.

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Canada’s aquaculture industry is also thriving. “Aquaculture production in Canada has more than doubled since 1996,” says Guy Beaupré, Director General for Aquaculture at DFO, “and its value

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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  

  

  M         

       

185

Monthly Farm Milk Price

U.S.

   1,000,000

EU-25

160

Canada

Monthly Milk Production in Canada

800,000

135 600,000 110 400,000

1960

1976

200,000 60

2010

Source: UW Madison, CDIC, Europa (DFC calculations)

January 07

January 08

January 09

January 10

January 11

Source: Statistics Canada

January

                         

April

July

September

                        J

  

     

December

FOCUS ÂŠGary Hershorn/Reuters

Bench strength: Winter Olympics 2010

Gold-medalist Sidney Crosby celebrates success

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Canada and the OECD

Major sporting events can boost economies, while giving people a boost too. The Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010, which were pulled off to great applause despite the odds, were no exception. How was it done, and what lessons did the organisers learn? We spoke with John Furlong, who headed up the organising committee responsible for the games. “We were not given a get-out-of-jail card by governments,” says John Furlong. “A one-dollar deficit would have been unforgivable.” The CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) was referring to the CAN$1.75 million operating budget for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr Furlong dismisses the notion that he was creative in getting the Olympics under way in the midst of the economic crisis. “It wasn’t creativity,” he says. “We were fighting for our lives.” It was a good fight, better than anyone had imagined, and not just economically. Canada won 14 gold medals, the highest number of medals won by a country in a single Olympic year. Not only that, it took the gold in the sport that for many defines the nation: ice hockey. Canada was jubilant. “Canada did not have an Olympic experience of its own,” says Mr Furlong. “It had a profound effect on the country.” How did he navigate the slalom of the economic crisis? The answer was to pull in the crowds, not least because if Canadians were spared the demoralising sight of vacant stands, they were more likely to cheer for their athletes. “I remember that when I was in Beijing, at some events over half the seats were empty. So what we did was set up a bartering system. People who couldn’t or didn’t want to attend one event could exchange their tickets with someone who did. That way, we always had a full house.” Confidence was vital to the success of the games. The economic crisis had left financial partners grimacing. “There were dire predictions that General Motors would fail. We decided to believe they would not fail. And they came through. No one wanted to let us down because of what it meant to the country. None of our partners failed us.” Hosting global events such as the Olympics can be harrowing, as OECD studies have shown. Organisation, budgeting and the economic aftermath of an event can burnish or tarnish a host country’s image. The OECD notes that the scope and sustainability of the post-Games legacy is a major factor in the evaluation of Olympic bids. Mr Furlong chose to make confidence and trust a point of policy. Organisers had worried that the 45,000-kilometer torch run, the longest in any host country, which would pass through more than 1,000 cities and towns, might meet resistance from some aboriginal communities. Mr Furlong invited them to participate. “We tried to

John Furlong

build a relationship with every community in the country,” he says. This led to a CAN$15 million contract with aboriginal firms to do some preliminary construction. “We bet the farm on these relationships,” he says, “and we were so pleased by the result that we upped that to CAN$50-million dollar contract.” In 2010 Mr Furlong was nominated one of 25 “Transformational Canadians”, who immeasurably improved the lives of others. And today he is much sought after as a speaker at public policy forums and business conferences. Although the full weight of the economic and social impact of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is still not in, a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that in the first three months of 2010, they generated CAN$862 million in real GDP and created or supported 17,000 jobs. The economic benefits, Mr Furlong admits, were not the first thing on his mind. “Our priority was to leave Canadians with a profound

How did Vancouver navigate the economic crisis? The answer was by pulling in the crowds human experience.” Few would doubt that his organising team accomplished that goal. The success of the Winter Olympics has been credited to Mr Furlong’s managerial talents, frugality and policy of inclusiveness. But the real reason, he says, was the public. “The public was the bench strength of the games.” When Sidney Crosby netted that puck for the gold in hockey, “every Canadian was on the ice. The games were seen as a metaphor of what was possible.”

References PricewaterhouseCoopers (2010], “The Games Effect: Report No. 6: Preliminary Economic Impact of the 2010 Winter Olympics on British Columbia and Canada”. OECD (2010), Local Development Benefits from Staging Global Events. See www.JohnFurlong.ca Visit the 2010 Winter Olympics website at www.olympic.org/vancouver-2010-winter-olympics

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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A labour market with few wrinkles Canada’s labour market was spared some of the more dramatic peaks and troughs of the economic crisis. Why? At the height of the crisis in 2009, unemployment in Canada was at the OECD average of 8.3%. This was well above pre-crisis levels. But recovery has been strong, especially in relation to its closest neighbour. “There has even been a reversal in the historic fortunes between Canada and the United States,” says John Martin, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD. “Until recently Canada had a higher unemployment rate than the US. Unemployment rates in April 2011 were 9% in the US, compared to 7.6% in Canada.” In the gentler climes of 2007, unemployment was 4.6% in the US and 6% in Canada. On the other hand, the share of the long-term unemployed (those out of work for more than 12 months) in total unemployment was only 12% compared with 29% in the US and an OECD average of over 32%. This determination to avoid long-term unemployment is one reason for the change of fortune. Work-sharing agreements, in which employees forsake some of their hours rather than be laid off, were extended from the initial 14 weeks to 78. It also successfully extended employment insurance to protect workers who had lost their jobs from becoming discouraged and abandoning their efforts to find a new one. Young people were the biggest casualties of the crisis. But again, Canadian youth took less of a bruising. The unemployment rate for young people in 2010 was 14.8%, 2 points below the OECD average, and almost 4 points below the US. Education has helped. “Canada has an extremely well-educated youth population compared to virtually any other OECD country,” says Mr Martin. Students also face fewer hardships in finding a job and keeping it once they leave school. In 2008, over 75% of first jobs were permanent and full-time. Admittedly the crisis sapped some of that vitality, but even so, long-term unemployment is rare. In 2009, it was 16.9% among 16 to 24-year-olds in OECD countries; in Canada it was a mere 2.6%. The frontier between education and work is blurrier in Canada than in other OECD countries. This may not always be a good thing. Canadians enter the workplace quite young. The minimum working age in the province of Alberta is 12, compared to 14 for the rest of the country. Since work is limited to two hours per day, it seems harmless. But the OECD warns that young people may be tempted to abandon school for employment, compromising future opportunities. One way to keep them in school is to start them earlier. The OECD found that enrolment in pre-school, especially of children from low income or otherwise disadvantaged families, provided valuable socialisation and kept them from dropping out of school later on. With one in five Canadians foreign-born, almost double the OECD average, one might think that unemployment among immigrants

would be higher. But the OECD found little difference. Part of this is due to Canada’s “skilled worker class” programme, which selects immigrants based on a points system. Nearly half of Canadian immigrants enter under this system. But immigrants still have a tougher time finding jobs, as do aboriginal Canadians. For their

“Canada’s labour market has ridden out the crisis well.” – John Martin children, it’s a different story: no less than 30% of immigrant children between the ages of 25 and 54 are in professional occupations, compared to 26% of Canadian-born parents. Yet is Canada squandering this wealth? “There are persistent earnings gaps between immigrants and native-born Canadians in the same occupations,” admits Mr Martin. “And one of the reasons is that employers attach virtually no value to qualifications acquired abroad. Canada is wasting some of the potential of these immigrants.” Canada should also reform its Employment Insurance system, under which a seasonal employer (say, the captain of a fishing trawler) or other business that lays off employees on a cyclical basis, pays less tax than a non-seasonal employer. What happens is that the non-seasonal employer effectively subsidises the seasonal one. The OECD has long recommended the use of employer experience rating, so that seasonal employers pay their share. “Canada’s labour market has ridden out the crisis well,” says Mr Martin. “The main challenge now is to continue.” References OECD (2010), “Seeking Success in Canada and the United States: Labour Market Outcomes among the Children of Immigrants,” from Equal Opportunities? The Labour Market Integration of the Children of Immigrants. OECD (2010), “Employment Outlook 2010–How does Canada compare?” See www.oecd.org/canada OECD (2008), Jobs for Youth: Canada. OECD (2010), OECD Economic Surveys: Canada. OECD (2011), Society at a Glance 2011–OECD Social Indicators.

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50 years of trade and co-operation: Work in progress Ken Ash, Director, OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate

these are used as inputs to produce other products–now dominate trade flows, representing 56% of trade in goods and 73% of trade in services across the OECD area. The implications are enormous. Import barriers designed to protect domestic jobs deny firms access to the goods, services and know-how they need to compete internationally; trade barriers don’t protect, they cost jobs. Policy needs to recognise the benefits from imports as well as those from exports. Canada’s overall tariff profile for agriculture and industrial goods does so, with the simple average tariff generally below 3% and over two-thirds of all tariff lines at zero. But there are exceptions that warrant attention, notably for supply-managed agricultural commodities, where tariffs can exceed 100%, and for some agricultural and industrial products, whose tariffs increase with higher degrees of processing. Canada has always been actively involved in OECD work on trade and agriculture, and these issues have been closely examined. A considerable body of research is already available to inform the development of alternative farm policies that would address Canada’s domestic interests, while at the same time not restricting trade.

“Canada has always been actively involved in OECD work on trade and agriculture” Canada is a trading nation. As a geographically large country, rich in natural resources and with a relatively small population, trade was a natural starting point. But Canada has built on this foundation and today boasts a highly skilled and educated work force, a well-developed physical and financial infrastructure, a transparent and predictable regulatory environment, and a high degree of openness to trade and investment. As a result, Canada enjoys growing trade flows, with both exports and imports in excess of half a trillion Canadian dollars annually. Foreign direct investment stock in Canada is growing even faster than trade and now totals more than CAN$500 billion, while Canadian direct investment abroad is slightly higher. Per capita GDP in Canada now stands at close to US$40,000, higher than the OECD average of US$34,000; unemployment peaked in 2010 and is now below 8%. Canada’s recent economic performance is all the more impressive in light of the global economic crisis. But past success is no guarantee for future success, and the global landscape is changing rapidly. Brazil, China, India and Russia are perhaps better described as emerged, rather than emerging, economies; and a number of other developing countries, particularly in Asia, are themselves beginning to emerge. Moreover, developed countries–including those in the EU, Japan and the US, as well as Canada–are adjusting to the resulting shift in global economic activity. Globalisation brings with it international fragmentation of production and global value chains. Today’s firms are outsourcing and offshoring in order to acquire higher quality inputs, lower costs, and generally improve their competitiveness. Intermediate goods and services–

Canada is also involved in OECD work on trade in services. As in many developed economies, Canadian services sectors have grown over the past five decades, and now account for almost three-quarters of economic activity and close to half of employment. Yet, globally, the share of services in international trade has remained stagnant at relatively low levels. Unlike tariffs applied at the border, the policies that impact services sectors are “behind the border” and not easily measured. These include such measures as barriers to commercial establishment, for example foreign ownership caps and joint venture obligations, or discriminatory registration requirements and licensing procedures. As a result, little is known about the impacts of different policies across services sectors and countries. Canada is a strong supporter of work recently launched at the OECD to address this information gap. Our aim is to develop a “services trade restrictiveness index”, underpinned by a regulatory policy database. It would provide policymakers with the information they need to identify barriers, improve their domestic policy environment and negotiate multilaterally to open up trade in services. This work is only possible with the full and active participation of the world’s major service providers. These are just two areas where Canada and the OECD have worked closely together over the years, for the mutual benefit of Canada and the global economy. With trade set to be an ever more important driver of global progress in the years ahead, even closer international co-operation offers the potential for even greater mutual benefits.

See www.oecd.org/tad

Th Business brief The Québec Autorité des marchés financiers A strong integrated regulator for Québec’s financial sector On February 1, 2004, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) was mandated by the Government of Québec, Canada, to regulate the province’s financial markets and provide assistance to consumers of financial products and services.

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Even if each fra and mo or rt at intensifying an numservices. an ded g frrecognizes iga , enh its Mconsumer ev localstrules an lar reg m u e a s financial literacy efforts. d n in the harmonization of regulations, it can still maintain e r c u d d es ec Th tio an F h r i i ial for d ind ly e fi A v z o u a n a n t ci n a s hi ete tha based on the realities tiv n A us tio an rit lit andcmarkets. th e ofA its firms u s x em o n es that,ct as anreintegrated imThe AMF era ns ge ct i t e n o citsia roleies g t isalof tr y the view regulator, g s ser erefo MF A r u d e s . he o m on sn ul It thereforef strives esp of laws. l sto ha mnumerous c u is hascyissued t r extends beyond the enforcement a c v ic rethe AMF Since its establishment, regulations . eg ect rm par tea at rel ad eff ers ot ect tio of i ubetween es samendments o o e o i n t m maintain a balance in an ever-changing economic context e o t and guidelines, proposed to key Québec laws such as n lat or r oni r n va rts f gt sa s ind ive he s. ngrowth ly i fi i n g . s a of the financial n industryhand the protection ofion ule zat na of financial the Securities Act and An uAct respecting ce services on s t v ie the distribution n ed d i s, s C io s fi n o c o w g t a i consume. or products and M services, and spearheaded r y m thet enactment ofcithe f it can str uid it c a pp a e h a i b u el l p ro an in at si ts an nad c Derivatives Act. or o n p d , i r ei t t t m n o i a st i r t r a on e s th in s a ide du iat po by theerQuébec nfo ll m v , ep a Sponsored AMF. o e c n n e s p f ts nt i n reg rm the AMF has ralso en To better protect the public, made ba significant ro fi i n o n a i to on in teg tec laof an p o s nd ul at and effecti-veness strides in increasing the number ff s, cre c i a ed i on tio nccompliance rat ser atio e r b audits, enhancing the relevance of its interventions, boosting the lp au n o i n ed oo a s i na v a rod ame d i ce bo investigationf ctimes.an reg s t i ng number of investiga-tions, and reducing n p s d uc nd n r ut on ev u . T ro ev g t t he ts su er- lato e th h b h an n n e A us me ch r, e n um eQ t i d o t M a i n u r More information about the Québec AMF and its activities are available on its i nt s. ng t s r ué mb ber F t h e ing ol be is at er an th r ven co website of d e ec e e x e ww c AMat www.lautorite.qc.ca. m t ref io on ten inv ffe p n o om d lem e s ct i re , b w. F an s tig ic int ut be en lau d c ats en a l s on yon tor its a th si f o o te x d ew y in n ite cti t b t he or g i edu etw en .qc viti k ts c

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Oil sands: Full of energy? oil sands production are 5-15% higher than those of conventional oil on a “well-to-wheels basis” (an assessment of total energy consumption, including emissions). However, Alberta is fairly active on this account, being the first jurisdiction in North America to legislate greenhouse

The IEA projects that by 2035 “unconventional oil”, including Canada’s oil sands, will meet about 10% of global oil demand gas reductions on large industrial facilities. Since 2007, the province has cut emissions by over 17 million tonnes, although part of this was due to the 2008-2009 economic crisis.

The Cree Indians around Lake Athabasca used the gobs of tar they found there to waterproof their canoes. The potential of this mundane stuff to yield oil was gleaned early in the 20th century, and Athabasca in Alberta, Canada sits on the world’s richest petroleum resource: more than 2 trillion barrels, as much as all the remaining recoverable conventional oil in the world. Of those 2 trillion barrels, however, only 170 billion are technically and economically recoverable. And of these, only 35 billion are near enough to the surface to be recovered through mining. Deposits deeper than 75 metres pose different problems and require different solutions. One method is “cold flow”, in which oil and sand are brought to the surface together and the oil is filtered out afterwards. Another is to inject steam into a network of wells. The steam heats the bitumen, which in its more fluid state can then be extracted. This method is the most widely applicable, but alternative ways of heating bitumen are being tested. In its raw state, bitumen is hard to transport to refineries. Since most buyers are only equipped to refine traditional crude, the bitumen must be upgraded. Upgrading plants apply intense heat to the bitumen to turn it into lighter “synthetic” crude. But the process is expensive, requiring tens of thousands of dollars of investment for every barrel per day of capacity. Reducing these costs is essential to make synthetic crude more attractive to buyers. Oil sands production has raised concerns about the environment. Alberta’s oil sands underlie some 140,000 km2 within Alberta’s 381,000 km2 of boreal forest. So far, only about 600 km2 have been exploited. Some of those areas have been reclaimed and reforested. As of 2009, 67 km2 had been reclaimed and more than 7.5 million tree seedlings planted. Carbon dioxide is another worry. Emissions from 62

Canada began to exploit oil sands in the late 1960s. But it was not until reserves were quantified in the 1990s and the government provided incentives that oil sands development took off. By 2010, Alberta was exporting 1.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude to the United States–15% of its crude imports–and reaping CAN$3 billion in royalties from oil sands projects. More than 80 oil-sands projects were operating in Canada in early 2010, with a raw bitumen capacity of 1.9 mb/d. The International Energy Agency (IEA), a sister organisation of the OECD, predicts that current construction projects will increase capacity by another 0.9 mb/d by 2015. If all projects proposed were to get underway, it would add another 4.5 mb/d. This would certainly help to quench the thirst for crude in a world slow to adopt more sustainable energy systems. The IEA projects that by 2035 “unconventional oil”, including Canada’s oil sands, will meet about 10% of global oil demand. “Regardless of what governments do,” says Christian Besson, energy analyst at the IEA, “unconventional oil is set to play an increasingly important role in world oil supply in 2035”. With accessible reserves dwindling and the costs of exploring remote ones, like deep offshore drilling, rising, Canada’s oil sands may lack refinement, but they look more dependable than their crude cousin.

References IEA (2010), World Energy Outlook, see www.worldenergyoutlook.org See Government of Alberta: Energy at www.energy.alberta.ca/OilSands/793.asp

INTERVIEW

“A leader in training for experts on international issues” Denis Brière Rector, Univer sité L aval COULD YOU TELL US ALL ABOUT THE CLUSTER OF INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AT UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL? Université Laval has developed significant savoir-faire in the field of training for experts on international issues. The High International Studies (HEI) spearhead this initiative and intend to continue to do so. Their training courses cover several disciplines (political science, law, economics and management), for students to each gain expert knowledge in a wide range of international issues. HEI programmes focus on transnational topics (masters in international relations and international development, as well as a doctorate in international studies). The HEI scheme draws support from the skills of the various faculties: administrative science, law, social sciences, literature, forestry, geography and geomatics as well as agriculture and food. We have thus created a “Cluster of International Excellence” label for which the HEI are a driving force. WHAT “ADDED VALUE” DO EXPERTS TRAINED AT UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL GAIN? The “Cluster of International Excellence” boasts a rich and varied syllabus. For example, the Faculty of Business Administration offers a Master’s programme in international development and humanitarian law as well as an international MBA. The Law Faculty offers a specialised higher education diploma and a master with a dissertation on international and transnational law.

Extra-curricular activities contribute to training on international issues: simulations of international institutions, commercial missions, contests in which students put forward arguments as in a court of international law, NGOs established on the campus; student medias on international themes. The HEI have signed agreements with several European universities: the Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux (France), Linköping University (Sweden) and the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Oslo (Norway) and across the Atlantic in both North and South America. Furthermore, Université Laval is fostering other international partnerships, in research and mobility, on top of those with the “Cluster of International Excellence”.

50 Years of Better Policies for Better Lives

Not just healthcare.

Merck & Co., Inc. (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) Celebrates 50 Years of OECD Contribution to Innovation in Policy and Making the World a Better Place

We would like to dedicate this page to thanking the OECD, its staff and its members for promoting policies that make it possible for a healthcare company like MSD to advance the interests of patients, improve public health and promote access to medicines and innovation. During the last 50 years, the OECD has made a tremendous contribution to our societies by providing a forum for wellresearched, fact-based and thoroughly discussed policies. For this, we thank the OECD. As a research-based company, our key goal is to preserve and improve human life. This goal can be achieved only with a sophisticated mix of science, health and industrial policy. The OECD has been the leading architect for the . development of the appropriate policy mix, thus making pharmaceutical innovation a daily reality. These are Better Policies for Better Lives in action.

BOOKS OECD iLibrary

Green house?

How much more would you be willing to pay for renewable energy? Are environmental concerns a factor in how much you use your car? And are you really thinking about the environment when you buy organic food? All these questions, and more, are at the heart of the 2008 survey which forms the basis of Greening Household Behaviour. A part of the OECD’s Green Growth Strategy, this survey covered 10,000 households across ten OECD countries to

determine how our day-to-day relationship with the environment may affect reforms, and is due for another round in 2011. Household pressures on the environment are expected to rise in the near future, thanks to consumption, so figuring out how to control these pressures will be crucial. The survey, which identifies the immediate impact of humdrum daily actions, such as buying food or driving a car, is intended to help policymakers in designing successful environmental strategies. Focusing on such questions as residential water and energy use, waste generation, transport choices and organic food consumption, the survey stresses the importance of addressing both the supply and the demand side of environmental measures, and suggests various policy approaches. The first–and for the authors,

the most important one–is to provide market-based incentives and penalities, through the likes of price increases or taxes, which have been shown to have an impact on water or energy consumption, for example.But to work, these initiatives need to be backed up by proper information, on why they are needed, which products or services are affected, and so on. More generally, green growth is viewed as a bottom-up process in this survey. If environmental reforms are to succeed, governments first need to find ways to integrate greener household behaviour as a socially-desirable norm. After all, charity is not the only thing that begins at home. ISBN 978-92-64-06362-4

FOCUSED ON INNOVATION

At an international level, we are firmly established among the world’s top universities and are involved in worldwide university networks and research collaborations. We are committed to innovative partnerships with leading universities, government, industry and international organisations, leading to excellence in research, teaching and the development of solutions to real-world problems. For more information, head to sydney.edu.au

CRICOS 00026A

At the University of Sydney, we’re serious about innovation. That’s why the University is home to some of the brightest minds in Australia and is a national leader in competitive research funding.

BOOKS OECD iLibrary

Bestsellers of 2010 Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital: Condensed Version 2010

OECD Factbook 2010: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics

ISBN 978-92-64-08948-8 1-Sep-2010, 470 pages, €69 $96 £62 ¥8 900

ISBN 978-92-64-08356-1 1-Jun-2010, 288 pages, €50 $70 £45 ¥6 500

International double taxation can occur when more than one country tries to tax a taxpayer for the same thing during the same period. These occurances have largely been eliminated by the OECD Model Tax Convention, which has set the standards used in bilateral treaties worldwide. Nevertheless, as economies and financial systems evolve, there is a need to constantly monitor and update the convention, and this 2010 edition brings the text of the articles and their commentaries up to date. Last updated in 2008, this new edition is selling faster than any previous edition.

The OECD Factbook has become the standard international reference tool for international economic statistics. Not only does it provide reliable data for key series over a good time span, it also provides a clearly written and easily understood definition for each series, as well as commentary on the comparability of the data and an overview of the recent evolution of the series. Available as a book, on a USB flash memory stick and as an iPhone/iPad App.

OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations 2010

ISBN 978-92-64-05598-8 8-Sep-2010, 472 pages, €75 $105 £67 ¥9 700

ISBN 978-92-64-09033-0 1-Sep-2010, 372 pages, €89 $124 £80 ¥11 500

Closely related to the Model Tax Convention, the Transfer Pricing Guidelines provide guidance on the application of the “arm’s length principle”, which is the international consensus on transfer pricing, the valuation, for tax purposes, of cross-border transactions between associated (multinational) enterprises. This edition updates the 2009 edition.

Education at a Glance 2010: OECD Indicators

Education at a Glance enables comparisons of education systems to those of others. It provides a rich, comparable and up-to-date array of indicators on systems, and represents the consensus of professional thinking on how to measure the current state of education internationally. The indicators show who participates in education, how much is spent on it, and how education systems operate. They also illustrate a wide range of educational outcomes, comparing, for example, student performance in key subject areas, and the impact of education on earnings and on adults’ chances of employment.

OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08375-2 16-Jul-2010, 248 pages, €52 $72 £46 ¥6 700

This edition covers the outlook for commodity markets during the 2010 to 2019 period and brings together the commodity, policy and country expertise of both organisations. The report analyses world market trends for the main agricultural products, as well as for biofuels. It provides an assessment of agricultural market prospects for production, consumption, trade, stocks and prices of the commodities analysed. This year’s report also includes a special section on price volatility and price transmission from world to domestic markets.

OECD Employment Outlook 2010: Moving beyond the Jobs Crisis ISBN 978-92-64-08468-1 27-Jul-2010, 308 pages, €80 $112 £72 ¥10 400

Opening with an editorial which analyses the immediate policy challenges and provides advice for OECD governments, and a first chapter that sets out the facts and figures related to recent employment developments, and sets them in the broader economic context, the OECD Employment Outlook 2010 goes on to provide analysis in three specific policy areas: the jobs impact and policy response in emerging economies, institutional and policy determinants of labour market flows, and the quality of part-time work. The volume closes with a statistical annex which provides the latest available employment data.

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Highlights by theme International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables: Citrus Fruit

ECONOMICS

From Crisis to Recovery: The Causes, Course and Consequences of the Great Recession ISBN 978-92-64-06911-4 6-Oct-2010, 146 pages, €15 $19 £10 ¥2 000

ISBN 978-92-64-08373-8 8-Sep-2010, 166 pages, €50 $67 £42 ¥6 200

African Economic Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08652-4 6-Jul-2010, 286 pages, €50 $70 £45 ¥6 500

Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in Non-OECD Countries

ISBN 978-92-64-08524-4 15-Dec-2010, 344 pages, €96 $125 £77 ¥13 600

ISBN 978-92-64-07520-7 17-Mar-2010, 320 pages, €55 $74 £46 ¥6 800

OECD Economic Surveys 20-23 country reviews each year +/−150 pages each

ISBN 978-92-64-07996-0 11-Mar-2010, 246 pages, €72 $97 £61 ¥9 000

Making Reform Happen ISBN 978-92-64-08628-9 15-Jun-2010, 300 pages, €90 $126 £81 ¥11 700

AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Policies in OECD Countries 2010: At a Glance ISBN 978-92-64-08379-0 27-Jul-2010, 128 pages, €28 $39 £25 ¥3 600

Fisheries: While Stocks Last? ISBN 978-92-64-07737-9 01-Sep-2010, 152 pages, €15 $19 £10 ¥2 000

Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Agriculture

Development Co-operation Report 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-07987-8 23-Apr-2010, 278 pages, €95 $128 £80 ¥11 800

Latin American Economic Outlook 2011: How Middle-Class Is Latin America? ISBN 978-92-64-09464-2 7-Dec-2010, 176 pages, €50 $70 £45 ¥6 500

Southeast Asia Economic Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-09599-1 15-Dec-2010, 204 pages, €40 $56 £36 ¥5 200

ICTs for Development: Improving Policy Coherence ISBN 978-92-64-07739-3 12-Feb-2010, 204 pages, €40 $54 £34 ¥5 000

Perspectives on Global Development 2010: Shifting Wealth ISBN 978-92-64-08465-0 18-Aug-2010, 176 pages, €60 $84 £54 ¥7 800

ISBN 978-92-64-08345-5 17-Mar-2010, 120 pages, €27 $37 £24 ¥3 500

EDUCATION

Climate Change and Agriculture

PISA Volume 1: What Students Know and Can Do: Student Performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science

ISBN 978-92-64-08686-9 22-Jun-2010, 136 pages, €33 $46 £29 ¥4 200

ISBN 978-92-64-09146-7 7-Dec-2010, 224 pages, €40 $56 £36 ¥5 200

DEVELOPMENT

OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2010 Issue 2

Economic Policy Reforms 2010: Going for Growth

PISA Volume 2: Overcoming Social Background: Equity in Learning Opportunities and Outcomes

PISA Volume 3: Learning to Learn: Student Engagement, Strategies and Practices ISBN 978-92-64-08394-3 5-Jan-2011, 165 pages, €40 $56 £36 ¥5 200

PISA Volume 4: What Makes a School Successful: Resources, Policies and Practices ISBN 978-92-64-09148-1 16-Dec-2010, 308 pages, €40 $56 £36 ¥5 200

PISA Volume 5: Learning Trends: Changes in Student Performance since 2000 ISBN 978-92-64-09149-8 16-Dec-2010, 212 pages, €40 $56 £36 ¥5 200

Highlights from Education at a Glance 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08469-8 8-Sep-2010, 92 pages, €28 $39 £25 ¥3 600

Trends Shaping Education 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-07526-9 3-Nov-2010, 90 pages, €25 $35 £22 ¥3 200

Education Today 2010: The OECD Perspective ISBN 978-92-64-09061-3 10-Nov-2010, 88 pages, €24 $33 £21 ¥3 100

The Nature of Learning: Using Research to Inspire Practice ISBN 978-92-64-08647-0 20-Sep-2010, 340 pages, €39 $54 £35 ¥5 000

ISBN 978-92-64-09144-3 7-Dec-2010, 276 pages, €24 $33 £21 ¥3 100 OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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EMPLOYMENT

OECD Employment Outlook 2010: Moving beyond the Jobs Crisis ISBN 978-92-64-08468-1 27-Jul-2010, 308 pages, €80 $112 £72 ¥10 400

Jobs for Youth: Off to a Good Start? ISBN 978-92-64-09607-3 21-Dec-2010, 160 pages, €29 $40 £26 ¥3 700

Better Regulation in Europe

ISBN 978-92-64-08346-2 17-Mar-2010, 104 pages, €25 $35 £22 ¥3 200

GOVERNANCE

Innovative Financing Mechanisms for the Water Sector

15 country reviews

Risk and Regulatory Policy: Improving the Governance of Risk ISBN 978-92-64-08292-2 6-May-2010, 248 pages, €70 $98 £63 ¥9 100

ISBN 978-92-64-08365-3 17-Mar-2010, 142 pages, €42 $58 £37 ¥5 400

Post-Public Employment: Good Practices for Preventing Conflict of Interest

ISBN 978-92-64-08884-9 24-Nov-2010, 166 pages, €35 $49 £31 ¥4 500

Interim Report on the Green Growth Strategy: Implementing our Commitment for a Sustainable Future

ISBN 978-92-64-05669-5 20-Sep-2010, 104 pages, €24 $30 £20 ¥3 000

ENERGY

ISBN 978-92-64-08773-6 1-Jul-2010, 90 pages, E-book

Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust, Vol. 1: Increasing Transparency through Legislation

Globalisation, Transport and the Environment

ISBN 978-92-64-07336-4 18-Dec-2010, 170 pages, €30 $40 £25 ¥3 700

Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers: A Synthesis of Findings across OECD Countries

World Energy Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08624-1 9-Nov-2010, 700 pages, €150 $210 £135 ¥19 500

Projected Costs of Generating Electricity 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08430-8 1-Apr-2010, 216 pages, €70 $98 £63 ¥9 100

Energy Technology Perspectives 2010: Scenarios and Strategies to 2050 ISBN 978-92-64-08597-8 16-Jul-2010, 708 pages, €100 $140 £90 ¥13 000

ENVIRONMENT

Cities and Climate Change ISBN 978-92-64-06366-2 7-Dec-2010, 276 pages, €59 $82 £53 ¥7 600

Paying for Biodiversity: Enhancing the Cost-Effectiveness of Payments for Ecosystem Services ISBN 978-92-64-09026-2 12-Oct-2010, 196 pages, €29 $40 £26 ¥3 700

Pricing Water Resources and Water and Sanitation Services

ISBN 978-92-64-07919-9 10-Feb-2010, 276 pages, €55 $74 £46 ¥6 800

FINANCE AND INVESTMENT

Annual Report on the OECD Guidelines for Multi-national Enterprises 2010: Corporate Responsibility ISBN 978-92-64-09138-2 16-Dec-2010, 242 pages, €65 $91 £58 ¥8 400

Investment Reform Index 2010: Monitoring Policies and Institutions for Direct Investment in South-East Europe ISBN 978-92-64-07957-1 13-Apr-2010, 320 pages, €98 $137 £88 ¥12 700

Supporting Investment Policy and Governance Reforms in Iraq ISBN 978-92-64-07724-9 6-Jul-2010, 244 pages, €60 $81 £51 ¥7 500

Transition to a Low-carbon Economy: Public Goals and Corporate Practices ISBN 978-92-64-09022-4 8-Dec-2010, 116 pages, €29 $40 £26 ¥3 700

Lobbyists, Governments and Public Trust, Vol. 2: Promoting Integrity through Self-Regulation ISBN 978-92-64-08493-3 28-Feb-2011, 105 pages, €28 $39 £25 ¥3 600

Why Is Administrative Simplification So Complicated? Looking beyond 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08973-0 12-Oct-2010, 138 pages, €35 $49 £31 ¥4 500

Post-Public Employment: Good Practices for Preventing Conflict of Interest ISBN 978-92-64-05669-5 20-Sept-2010, 104 pages, €24 $30 £20 ¥3 000

INDUSTRY AND SERVICES

Structural and Demographic Business Statistics 2009 ISBN 978-92-64-07287-9 22-Apr-2010, 400 pages, €90 $121 £76 ¥11 200

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OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2010

SOCIAL ISSUES / MIGRATION / HEALTH

ISBN 978-92-64-07741-6 25-Feb-2010, 344 pages, €75 $101 £63 ¥9 300

Open for Business: Migrant Entrepreneurship in OECD Countries

Eco-Innovation in Industry: Enabling Green Growth

ISBN 978-92-64-09582-3 7-Dec-2010, 312 pages, €89 $124 £80 ¥11 500

ISBN 978-92-64-07721-8 27-Jan-2010, 279 pages, €45 $60 £38 ¥5 600

Value for Money in Health Spending

NUCLEAR ENERGY

ISBN 978-92-64-08880-1 16-Oct-2010, 200 pages, €45 $63 £40 ¥5 800

Uranium 2009: Resources, Production and Demand

ISBN 978-92-64-09198-6 20-Sep-2010, 140 pages, €37 $51 £33 ¥4 800

SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The OECD Innovation Strategy: Getting a Head Start on Tomorrow ISBN 978-92-64-08470-4 28-Jun-2010, 224 pages, €66 $92 £59 ¥8 500

Measuring Innovation: A New Perspective ISBN 978-92-64-05946-7 1-Jun-2010, 128 pages, €33 $46 £29 ¥4 200

Phase 1 reports now available for Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, India, Jamaica, Monaco, Panama and Qatar. Price per volume: €24 $33 £21 ¥3 100

Model Tax Convention on Income and Capital: Condensed Version 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08948-8 1-Sept-2010, 470 pages, €69 $96 £62 ¥8 900

Taxation, Innovation and the Environment ISBN 978-92-64-08762-0 13-Oct-2010, 252 pages, €45 $63 £40 ¥5 800

ISBN 978-92-64-04789-1 3-Aug-2010, 425 pages, €130 $182 £117 ¥16 900

Nuclear Energy Data 2010

Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes: Peer Reviews

Improving Value in Health Care: Measuring Quality ISBN 978-92-64-09480-2 3-Nov-2010, 106 pages, €24 $33 £21 ¥3 100

Obesity and the Economics of Prevention: Fit not Fat ISBN 978-92-64-06367-9 29-Sep-2010, 268 pages, €39 $54 £35 ¥5 000

OECD Health Data 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08607-4 27-Jul-2010, CD-ROM, €85 $119 £76 ¥ 11 000

International Migration Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08601-2 16-Jul-2010, 358 pages, €85 $119 £76 ¥11 000

TRADE

Trade and Economic Effects of Responses to the Economic Crisis ISBN 978-92-64-08844-3 14-Sep-2010, 128 pages, €24 $33 £21 ¥3 100

TRANSPORTATION

Trends in the Transport Sector 2010 ISBN 978-92-82-10271-8 15-Jun-2010, 88 pages, €25 $35 £22 ¥3 200

Implementing Congestion Charges ISBN 978-92-82-10284-8 6-Oct-2010, 152 pages, €65 $91 £58 ¥8 400

Pensions at a Glance 2009 OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08467-4 10-Dec-2010, 220 pages, €50 $70 £45 ¥6 500

OECD Information Technology Outlook 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08466-7 15-Dec-2010, 325 pages, €98 $137 £88 ¥12 700

News in the Internet Age: New Trends in News Publishing ISBN 978-92-64-08869-6 10-Nov-2010, 160 pages, €24 $33 £21 ¥3 100

ISBN 978-92-64-06071-5 15-Dec-2010, 280 pages, €35 $47 £29 ¥4 300

Society at a Glance 2009: OECD Social Indicators ISBN 978-92-64-04938-3 19-May-2009, 132 pages, €35 $49 £27 ¥5 200

TAXATION

OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational - Enterprises and Tax Administrations 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-09033-0 1-Sep-2010, 372 pages, €89 $124 £80 ¥11 500

Drugs and Driving: Detection and Deterrence ISBN 978-92-82-10275-6 5-Nov-2010, 110 pages, €35 $49 £31 ¥4 500

URBAN, RURAL AND REGIONAL POLICY

Regional Development Policies in OECD Countries: ISBN 978-92-64-08722-4 4-Nov-2010, 384 pages, €80 $112 £72 ¥10 400

OECD Territorial Reviews: Venice, Italy 2010 ISBN 978-92-64-08349-3 16-Jul-2010, 236 pages, €40 $54 £34 ¥5 000 OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

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Trade for aid

As efforts to restart the stalled Doha Development Round negotiations intensify, the policy focus on world trade, and, specifically, its relation to development aid and growth in poorer countries, has become more acute. Trade is a powerful engine for economic growth, as the OECD’s founders argued 50 years ago, and, as such, can contribute to reducing poverty. However, efforts to improve trade in developing

countries are often hampered by domestic constraints, particularly a lack of adequate economic infrastructures, as well as institutional and organisational obstacles. Trade for Growth and Poverty Reduction focuses on the framework of the Aid for Trade Initiative, launched in 2005 by the World Trade Organization. This report identifies the four main objectives of aidfor-trade programmes: increasing trade, diversifying exports, increasing the capacity of countries to adjust to world trade, and linking with domestic economies. Policymakers have to identify the constraints they may be facing in their own countries by combining various approaches, from consulting stakeholders and comparing with other countries, to scrutinising the entire value chain. Once these constraints have been identified,

any measures to counter them need to fit a country’s specific needs while targeting the sectors which poorer people work in. This can help to enhance productive capacity, reduce vulnerability and better integrate them into regional and global markets. However, if the approach promoted by the Aid for Trade Initiative is to bear fruit, it must be grounded in international co-operation, as well as being supported by other policies, in education and training for instance, and providing social safety nets. Developing countries are now responsible for between a quarter and a third of world trade. By helping them to improve their trade mechanisms, OECD countries may find that they are also helping themselves. ISBN 978-92-64-10105-0

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Interview with Dessau's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jean-Pierre Sauriol

Dessau, a rapidly expanding Canadian company with an international vision Dessau is one of Canada's leading engineering-construction firms and is ranked 58th in the world. For more than half a century, the company has offered a wide range of professional services covering several different fields of activity. With 4,700 employees, Dessau works on major projects across Canada and internationally. The company has been honoured with more than 100 awards of excellence in recognition of its innovative solutions and technical expertise. Dessau is pleased to celebrate Canada's 50 years of collaboration with the OECD and to participate in this special edition of OECD Observer.

As a leading Canadian firm, what sets you apart from other companies? Dessau offers a one-stop-shop approach, bringing together a comprehensive suite of professional services under the same roof. This business model makes it possible for us to manage all project phases, taking client ideas from the concept stage through to completion. Of course, our employees are one of our strongest assets. Their talent, commitment and ability to innovate have garnered Dessau a reputation for specialized expertise in several fields of activity. Technical know-how is the cornerstone of our company. Dessau has been actively expanding in recent years. Where do you see the company in the future? In the last three years, Dessau has doubled in terms of revenue and number of employees. We have made several acquisitions in different fields, allowing us to broaden our service offering and better respond to client needs. We expect to continue growing throughout Canada and abroad in the years to come.

Given that you are a Canadian company, how do you approach projects in other countries? Although we export expertise, we also rely on a qualified local workforce to ensure the success of our projects. We promote knowledge transfer and the exchange of best practices in project management. Ultimately, this leads to innovative solutions and new breakthroughs. It's a winning combination for the company and our clients. Environmental protection has become a global concern. How has this affected your activities? We firmly believe that companies have an obligation to be environmentally and socially responsible. In our experience, sustainable development concepts can help trigger innovation. We are very proud of our sustainable development policy, which was recently launched with a three-year action plan.

Talk to us about Dessau's international activities. Dessau's roster of achievements includes major projects in more than 50 countries, dating back to the 1970s. Today, the firm is concentrating its efforts in North Africa, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The company recently established a foothold in Colombia thanks to a major acquisition. In addition to Chile and Peru, where Dessau is already active, Colombia presents strong economic potential thanks to business opportunities in the transportation infrastructure and energy sectors. This acquisition brings Dessau's total number of employees in Latin America to 800.

DESSAU.COM

BETTER POLICIES FOR BETTER LIVES

OECD Insights: Understanding the issues OECD INSIGHTS OECD INSIGHTS

PAT R I C K L O V E

FISHERIES

BRIAN KEELEY

FISHERIES

Other titles in this series: Human Capital, 2007 Sustainable Development, 2008 International Trade, 2009 International Migration, 2009

On the Internet: w w w.oecd.org /insights OECD Insights blog: w w w.oecdinsights.org

How did the sharpest global slowdown in more than six decades happen, and how can recovery be made

sustainable? OECD Insights: From While Stocks Last? of the Great Crisis to Recovery traces the causes,

Recession

course and consequences of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great Recessionâ&#x20AC;?. It explains how a global build-up of liquidity, coupled with poor regulation, created a financial crisis that quickly began to make itself felt in the real economy, destroying businesses and raising unemployment to its highest levels in decades. The worst of the crisis now looks to be over, but a swift return to strong growth appears unlikely and employment will take several years to get back to pre-crisis levels. High levels of public and private debt mean cutbacks and saving are likely to become the main priority, meaning the impact of the recession will continue to be felt for years to come. Other titles in this series: Human Capital, 2007 Sustainable Development, 2008 International Trade, 2009 International Migration, 2009 Fisheries, 2010

The Causes, Course and Consequences of the Great Recession

FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY

This book uses the expertise of the OECD to assess these issues, and describes the challenges facing those who work in the industry. Apart from the fishers themselves and their families, it also draws on the points of view of NGOs, government specialists, scientists and independent experts.

The Causes, Course and Consequences

BRIAN KEELEY PATRICK LOVE

The fish on your plate may have been caught by a high-tech trawler, trapped by a lone fisher, farmed along with tons of others, or even stolen by pirates. It may have been captured in the South Atlantic, landed in Europe, and processed in China. Globalisation, North-South relations, changing attitudes and lifestyles, and the way we manage natural resources all influence fisheries.

PATRICK LOVE

While Stocks Last?

PAT R I C K L O V E

FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY

From Crisis to Recovery

Fisheries

On the Internet: w w w.oecd.org /insights Visit the Insights blog at w w w.oecdinsights.org ISBN 978-92-64-07737-9 01 2010 08 1 P

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Child poverty rises–

Yet there are more dual-earner than one-earner families in almost every country. And female employment in the OECD has risen by more than 10 percentage points in the past 15 years, nearing 60% in 2009. The report argues that women are better

–but could addressing non-paid work provide answers? From housework and homemaking to gardening and local community work, both women and men do so-called “unpaid work” on top of their paid jobs. But according to the OECD’s report “Cooking, Caring and Volunteering: Unpaid Work Around the World”, women do more unpaid work than men in every country. In fact, they work about an hour more than men in Denmark, and up to five hours more in India. On average across OECD countries, women invest some 150 minutes more of their time in unpaid work than men do. Unpaid care work enables economies to grow, but unless such workers, and particularly women, are supported, their productive potential is constrained, as is their family’s well-being. According to some critics, until unpaid work is more fully taken

30 25 20 15 10

Mid-1990s

Mid/late-2000s

Israel

Mexico

Chile

Spain

Italy

Canada

Japan

OECD

Luxembourg

Czech Republic

Germany

France

Sweden

Denmark

Source: OECD

educated too, overtaking men in the process. Could higher women’s employment help reduce child poverty? Not necessarily, say the authors, and recommend measures to help families combine work and care

commitments, meet childcare costs and better integrate their leave, care and workplace needs. Men must help out more with housework and non-paid caring work too. More investment is also needed in early childhood, and in linking high-quality services to cognitive development for poorer children in particular.

Unpaid workers unite Total minutes worked, paid and unpaid, per day 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Belgium Denmark Germany South Africa France Netherlands Finland Norway UK Italy Spain Hungary Poland Australia Ireland OECD Korea India Turkey Sweden Slovenia US New Zealand China Austria Estonia Canada Portugal Japan Mexico

A few decades ago the poorest in society were most likely to be pensioners. Now children are taking over that mantle, as poverty in households with children rises in nearly all OECD countries. Indeed, families with children are more likely to be poor today than in previous decades, according to Doing Better for Families, a new OECD report. The share of children living in poor households has risen in many countries over the past decade, to reach 12.7% across the OECD. One in five children in Israel, Mexico, Turkey, Poland and the US live in poverty. (The OECD defines “poor” as someone living in a household with less than half the median income, adjusted for family size).

Percentage of children in poor households

Paid work or study Unpaid work Source: OECD estimates based on national time-use surveys Note: Travelling time related to paid and unpaid work is included in the respective categories.

on board in economic data, policies that focus on increasing women’s labour market participation may be blunted (see, for instance, “Changing the care-less economy” by Rosalind Eyben, at www. oecdinsights.org). Putting a value on unpaid work is not an easy task, and work

is under way to address this, not least to measure changes in personal welfare more accurately. The data relate to 2008; it remains to be seen if the crisis has affected these gaps. A pdf of the report can be found at www.oecd-ilibrary.org

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

DATABANK

% change from:

previous period

previous year

level: current period

same period last year

Australia

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.7 -0.7 0.4

2.7 -0.3 2.7

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

-2.1 5.2 4.9

-5.9 5.6 4.2

Austria

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.8 3.0 0.7

3.1 9.0 2.1

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

2.5 4.2 *

2.7 4.8 *

Belgium

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

0.5 0.3 1.4

2.0 9.8 3.4

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

-0.2 8.0 *

-0.2 8.2 *

Canada

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.8 0.0 0.6

3.2 5.5 2.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q1 2011 Q1 2011

-2.7 7.7 1.2

-2.6 8.2 0.4

Chile

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.9 0.4 0.4

5.8 2.6 2.5

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

3.7 7.1 3.3

2.0 10.0 0.5

Czech Republic

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.3 3.4 -0.1

2.6 11.3 2.1

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.4 7.1 1.2

-0.3 7.4 1.8

Denmark

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-0.4 -1.4 0.4

2.9 6.1 2.6

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

6.6 7.7 0.9

4.1 7.1 0.8

Estonia

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

2.3 10.1 1.1

6.8 33.8 5.4

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

10.5 14.3 1.1

9.0 16.1 2.2

Finland

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

1.7 3.1 1.2

5.0 8.9 2.5

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

6.5 8.1 *

6.5 8.7 *

France

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.4 0.9 0.4

1.5 5.8 1.6

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-2.4 9.6 *

-2.2 9.9 *

Germany

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.4 2.9 0.4

4.0 13.5 1.5

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

6.1 6.6 *

7.1 7.5 *

Greece

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-1.4 -1.5 1.5

-6.6 -6.5 5.1

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-9.3 14.1 *

-10.5 10.2 *

Hungary

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.2 -1.7 0.5

2.3 9.7 4.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

2.0 11.2 6.6

1.3 10.7 6.7

Iceland

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q2 2010 Q1 2011

-1.5 0.5 0.4

0.1 .. 2.0

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 -24.8 Q4 2010 8.5 Q4 2010 4.8

-14.7 7.7 8.6

Ireland

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2010

-1.6 2.6 0.2

-0.5 11.4 0.9

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

Israel

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

1.9 0.3 0.8

5.7 .. 2.5

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Italy

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

0.1 -0.4 1.0

1.5 4.2 2.3

Japan

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-0.3 -1.7 0.4

Korea

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

Luxembourg

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Mexico

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

2.6 14.5 *

-1.1 12.8 *

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

2.4 6.6 2.4

5.0 7.2 1.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

-3.1 8.5 *

-2.2 8.3 *

2.5 4.8 0.1

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

3.5 5.0 0.3

3.4 5.3 0.5

0.5 -0.5 1.8

4.7 9.9 4.5

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

3.3 3.4 3.1

3.7 3.5 2.9

Q3 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

1.5 3.4 1.1

3.2 7.8 3.5

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

8.4 4.6 1.1

4.9 4.8 *

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

1.3 0.8 1.8

4.4 .. 4.2

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

-1.3 5.5 4.9

0.0 5.5 5.0

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

DATABANK

% change from: previous period

previous year

level: current period

same period last year

Netherlands

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

0.6 3.1 0.7

2.2 5.8 2.0

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

7.5 4.4 *

4.8 4.2 *

New Zealand

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.4 1.5 2.3

1.4 -0.9 4.0

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

-5.6 6.8 3.0

-5.9 7.0 2.7

Norway

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

2.4 7.2 0.9

1.5 -3.9 2.2

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

12.5 3.5 2.6

14.0 3.3 2.3

Poland

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.8 0.4 1.0

3.9 9.3 2.9

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

-4.6 9.7 4.1

-2.4 8.9 4.1

Portugal

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-0.5 1.2 0.7

1.0 1.0 2.4

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-9.8 11.2 *

-9.3 10.2 *

Slovak Republic

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.9 8.0 0.2

3.4 18.3 1.1

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-2.5 14.1 *

Slovenia

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.6 1.2 0.0

1.9 8.1 1.7

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-0.6 7.8 *

0.7 6.4 *

Spain

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.2 0.7 1.6

0.6 0.5 2.6

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 -4.3 Q4 2010 20.5 *

-4.6 19.0 *

Sweden

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

1.2 0.5 1.3

7.2 11.1 1.9

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

5.9 7.9 1.7

4.7 8.8 0.2

Switzerland

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q3 2010 Q4 2010

0.9 1.3 0.7

3.2 5.7 0.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

13.9 3.9 0.2

14.9 4.6 0.3

Turkey

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

3.6 9.0 0.8

9.7 11.8 4.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q3 2010

-8.2 10.0 ..

-2.7 11.9 ..

United Kingdom

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-0.5 0.7 1.0

1.5 3.3 3.4

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q1 2011

-2.9 7.8 0.8

-0.9 7.8 0.6

United States

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.8 0.9 0.3

2.8 6.4 1.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q1 2011 Q1 2011

-3.0 8.9 0.3

-2.8 9.7 0.2

Euro area

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.3 1.8 ..

2.0 7.9 2.0

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

-1.4 10.0 *

-0.4 9.9 *

1 Russian Federation

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

.. 2.6 2.1

.. 6.7 8.1

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

1.8 .. 4.6

5.0 .. 8.8

2 Brazil

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

0.7 0.8 1.8

5.0 3.5 5.6

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010

-2.4 .. ..

-1.5 .. ..

2 China

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q3 2010

.. .. 0.6

.. .. 3.3

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q4 2010

.. .. 3.7

.. .. 1.9

2 India

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q1 2010 Q4 2010 Q4 2010

5.0 0.1 2.4

11.3 6.0 9.2

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

.. .. ..

2 Indonesia

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q1 2011

2.4 .. 1.7

6.9 .. 6.8

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

1.0 .. 7.0

1.8 .. 7.7

2 South Africa

Gross domestic product Industrial production Consumer price index

Q4 2010 Q4 2010

1.1 .. 0.4

3.7 .. 3.4

Current balance Unemployment rate Interest rate

Q3 2010 Q4 2010

-3.1 .. 5.7

-3.4 .. 7.0

Non-members

Gross Domestic Product: Volume series; seasonally adjusted. Leading Indicators: A composite indicator based on other indicators of economic activity, which signals cyclical movements in industrial production from six to nine months in advance. Consumer Price Index: Measures changes in average retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services. Current Balance: Billion US$; seasonally adjusted. Unemployment Rate: % of civilian labour force, standardised unemployment rate; national definitions for Iceland, Mexico and Turkey; seasonally adjusted apart from Turkey. Interest Rate: Three months; *refers to euro area.

..=not available 1 Accession candidate to OECD 2 Enhanced engagement programme Source: Main Economic Indicators, April 2010

OECD Observer No 284 Q1 2011

DATABANK

Development aid to slow Development aid from OECD donor countries totalled $129 billion in 2010, the highest level ever, and an increase of 6.5% over 2009. But despite this record, the 2010 figures confirm that some donors are not meeting internationally agreed commitments. In terms of the amount of aid, the US, the UK, France, Germany and Japan were the largest donors, while the EU-based members of the OECD donor group, the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), provided a combined total of $70.2 billion, or some 54% of the overall total.

though at a slower pace than before: 2% per year between now and 2013, compared to the average 8% per year over the past three years. Aid to Africa is likely to rise by just 1% per year in real terms, compared to an average of 13% over the past three years. At this rate, any additional aid to the African countries

An OECD survey shows that most donors plan to increase aid over the next three years,

See www.oecd.org/dac/scalingup

Scaling down Country programmable aid, % change 25% OECD-DAC countries

20%

However, total bilateral aid from OECD-DAC donors represents about 0.32% of their combined gross national income (GNI). Only Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden exceeded the United Nations recommended development aid target of 0.7% of GNI.

will be outpaced by population growth, which is not good news for the fight against poverty or reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

Multilateral donors Total

15% 10% 5% 0% -5%

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Source: OECD

Renewable electricity bills How willing are you to pay more for renewable energy? Judging by a survey we previewed in 2010 and whose results have now been published, the answer is: not that much. Greening Household Behaviour shows that while people may change their habits if given the right incentives and information, they are not quite as ready to dip deeply into their pockets. Policymakers the world over have introduced a range of initiatives to encourage the take-up of renewable energy, including providing grants to firms and households for installing appliances. But while this latest survey shows that the general public attitude towards the environment (awareness, membership of environmental organisations, etc.) strongly influences demand for renewable energy, so does the price.

True, respondents paying charges are more likely to save energy, the survey confirms, whether by adopting behaviour such as turning off lights or investing in more efficient appliances. But the survey also shows that almost half of all respondents are simply not willing to pay too much more to use green energy. Over 45% of households said they are not willing to pay any premium to use renewable energy; and in a few countries, only a quarter of respondents say they would pay more than 5% above their current electricity bill to use green energy. Very few respondents said they would pay over 30% more. The survey–which was conducted before recent nuclear incidents following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan–enters another round in 2011 (see book review p.37 or browse at www.oecdbookshop.org).

See also “Saving energy” in OECD Observer No 276-77 2010, available online.

Not much extra How much more would people pay for renewable energy? % population 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Nothing

+1-5%

+5-15% +16-30%

Source: Greening Household Behaviour, OECD 2011

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