Health spending continues to rise faster than economic growth in most OECD countries, maintaining a trend observed since the 1970s. Health spending reached 9.5% of GDP on average in 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, up from 8.8% in 2008, according to OECD Health Data 2011.
Luxembourg must step up its efforts to detect and prosecute cases of bribery of foreign public officials, particularly now that its legal framework has been strengthened, in compliance with the Anti-Bribery Convention
Austria should eliminate subsidies which encourage early retirement and target social transfers more effectively, according to the OECD’s latest economic survey.
International migration fell in 2009, reflecting lower demand for workers in OECD countries for the second consecutive year after a decade of growth, according to a new OECD report.
The OECD welcomes the comprehensive package approved by the Italian government at the weekend.
The economic crisis means global corporate losses have increased significantly. Though most of these claims are justified, some corporations use ‘aggressive tax planning’ to avoid taxes. Governments are working together to detect and deter these undue tax advantages.
The OECD’s welcomes the announcement by the Spanish government last Friday August 26th about having agreed with the opposition parties in Parliament to enshrine a set of deficit limits in the Constitution.
Furthering efforts to fight against international tax evasion and bank secrecy, members of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes have issued 12 new peer review reports.
"200 million people are out of work worldwide, close to the peak recorded at the depth of the Great Recession" warn OECD and ILO at the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers meet in Paris.
High unemployment rates, in the wake of the financial and economic crisis, have governments scrambling to create jobs. A new OECD report suggests that well-targeted tax reforms can encourage employers to hire more people and the jobless to look for employment.
