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801. Public Sector Modernisation

Publication Date:
03-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
Most OECD countries have been actively reforming their public sectors for two decades. Initially the problem seemed to be a relatively straightforward one of improving efficiency, reforming management practices, and divesting public involvement in commercial enterprises. These reforms have indeed had a major impact but they have also given rise to some unexpected problems of their own. Even a seemingly straightforward action such as simplifying a welfare benefit form and cutting the time taken to process it may, for example, encourage more people to apply for the benefit, increasing the workload and making it more difficult to cut waiting time. While more efficient government is certainly desirable, efficiency alone is not a guarantee of better government.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy

802. The Quality of the Teaching Workforce

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
The quality of the teaching workforce is a major consideration in any nation's aspirations for an educational system of high quality. Teachers form the core of the school system and a wide range of research studies has confirmed the importance of teacher quality for student learning. Thus, the development of policies seeking to improve the quality of teachers and ensure that all students receive quality teaching is a central concern for governments.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy

803. Raising the Quality of Educational Performance at School

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
To succeed in a rapidly changing world, individuals need to advance their knowledge and skills throughout their lives. Education systems need to lay strong foundations for this, by fostering knowledge and skills and strengthening the capacity and motivation of young adults to continue learning beyond school.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy

804. Education and Equity

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
For a more equitable society, all individuals, independently of their socio-economic background, origin and gender, should ideally have access to equivalent learning opportunities; those with organic disabilities, learning difficulties or social disadvantages should benefit from specific support; and finally, improving outcomes of all learners, and especially those who are less successful, should be a permanent objective of all educational systems.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy

805. Lifelong Learning

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
The concept of lifelong learning as an educational strategy emerged some three decades ago, through the efforts of the OECD, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. It was a response to the anomaly that while individuals learn throughout life, the provision of education opportunities was limited largely to the early phase of life, dominated by formal education. There was a perceived need to provide a “second chance” to those who did not benefit from educational opportunities available during childhood and youth.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy

806. Corporate Governance in Developing, Transition and Emerging–Market Economies

Author:
Charles Oman, Steven Fries, and Willem Buiter
Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
Corporate governance was long ignored as a matter of potential importance for the development of a nation's economy. It remained virtually invisible as a development policy issue until the East Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, followed closely by those in Russia and Brazil, drew attention to the problems of “crony capitalism” and their perceived relationship to poor local corporategovernance practices in several emerging-market economies. Yet as the perceived threat to global financial markets raised by those crises recedes and international pressures to strengthen corporate governance in emerging markets weaken, the danger is that local efforts significantly to improve corporate governance in the developing, transition and emerging-market economies will flag.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy

807. OECD Territorial Review of Montreal

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
The metropolitan region of Montreal (Metropolitan Montreal) is Canada's second most populous area after Toronto, and is home to almost 3.5 million people. With its low costs, high quality of life, and wide range of industrial, cultural, educational, and social strengths, Montreal has a vibrant and dynamic economy, but its diversity and complexity can lead to institutional isolation and fragmented decision- making.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy
Political Geography:
Canada

808. Economic Survey of Slovak Republic, 2004

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
Slovakia is engaged in an ambitious reform process which has a potential to quicken productivity growth, increase the employment rate and accelerate the catching-up to the per capita income levels of more advanced OECD countries. Short-term outcomes may be demanding socially and politically, but stimulus to growth and job-creation should help overcome the hardship. Policymakers should fully enforce the new framework for creating and doing business and support it with the full force of law. Human capital enrichment for new entrants through education reform is critical, while intensified re-training for the long-term unemployed is also indispensable, including for the Roma population. Demand for labour will be stimulated by the planned reductions in employment costs in the low end of the market, as well as by the fundamental tax reforms raising the return to enterprise creation and development. Further cuts in social contributions, which remain among the highest among OECD countries, should be a priority. The reform of the public spending system, which is already well engaged, should facilitate such additional cuts and help promote a smaller and more effective government. Continuing efforts of fiscal consolidation will improve the macroeconomic policy mix and help maintain supportive monetary conditions in the face of currency appreciation pres- sures from EU accession, and will help meet the Maastricht nominal convergence rules on a sustainable basis prior to euro area participation. The nominal flexibility of wages and prices should be conserved in order to preserve the competitiveness of the economy, notably of the domestic manufacturing and service firms. By sticking to this multi-pronged policy agenda, Slovakia would make its growth process more balanced and more job-rich and would accelerate further its already successful catching-up process.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy
Political Geography:
Slovakia

809. Economic Survey of Sweden, 2004

Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
With sound monetary and fiscal frameworks and a good macroeconomic position, Sweden is better placed to face the longer-term challenges of an ageing population than many other OECD countries. As elsewhere, these demographic trends will put downwardpressure on growth in potential output and increase burdens on public expenditure over time. Managing this situation effectively within the welfare state approach while enjoying the highest possible living standards will be easier if the country can raise productivity growth, expand the effective labour supply, and get public finances quickly back onto their intended medium-term path. Productivity growth could be boosted further by increasing the pressures from competition in all parts of the economy, building on earlier liberalisation efforts. Effectively addressing cartels and other anti-competitive behaviour, removing regulatory obstacles and further exposing the large public sector to competition would all help. Productivity growth could also be raised if workers and capital moved more quickly and easily in response to shifts in costs and demand for different outputs. However, taking the rewards for productivity improvements in the form of lower working hours diminishes the tax base; further reductions in high marginal tax rates would reduce the incentive to do so. Although employment rates are already high overall, more could be done to get young people qualified and into the workforce earlier and to improve the integration of immigrants. Reducing the numbers of people drawing sickness and disability benefits will not only boost effective labour supply but also help ease expenditure pressures. More generally, tight expenditure restraint will be necessary to attain the government's surplus target. The budget framework could be refined in ways that would help to ensure that public finances are sustainable in the long term, while also providing room to moderate marginal tax rates in order to boost incentives to work, save and invest. Further progress towards environmental sustainability could focus on improving the cost-effectiveness of policies. Ultimately, creating faster growth and maintaining the welfare state depend on continuation of far-sighted economic management.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy
Political Geography:
Sweden

810. Economic Survey of Switzerland, 2003

Publication Date:
01-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Abstract:
Although trend growth of GDP has been meagre for two decades (1.25 per cent against 2.75 per cent for the OECD average), per capita income in Switzerland remains among the highest in the OECD. In recent years, output growth was less resilient than in most other OECD countries, with the economy being in recession during the first semester of 2003. This is partly due to the global slump in the financial and capital goods sectors which are very important for the Swiss economy, but the unsatisfactory growth performance is largely attributable to the timid pace of structural reforms over many years. Against this background, there are three major challenges for economic policy.
Topic:
Agriculture, Economics, Environment, Human Rights, International Organization, and Political Economy
Political Geography:
Switzerland