The OECD’s Task Force on Tax and Development, meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, launches Tax Inspectors Without Borders/ Inspecteurs des impôts sans frontières – a new initiative to help developing countries bolster their domestic revenues by making their tax systems fairer and more effective.

Composite leading indicators (CLIs), designed to anticipate turning points in economic activity relative to trend, point to regained momentum in the OECD area but with divergence between economies.

How to optimise the skills of the labour market to anticipate business demand and promote growth and social cohesion in these times of record unemployment?

Young people continue to bear the brunt of the jobs crisis, with nearly 11 million 15 to 24 -year-olds out of work in OECD countries in early 2012. Youth unemployment in the OECD area in March 2012 was 17.1%, close to its November 2009 peak of 18.3%

The OECD has launched its Skills Strategy to help governments build economic resilience, boost employment and reinforce social cohesion. Despite the pressure on public finances, spending on education and skills is an investment for the future and must be a priority.

Breaking down barriers to gender equality in education, employment and entrepreneurship would create new sources of economic growth and help make better use of everyone’s skills, according to a new OECD report.

The global economy is recovering, but confidence is extremely uneven across different regions, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook. European governments must take greater action to ensure that the crisis in the euro area does not derail the recovery.

Tunisia and Morocco signed up today to a series of international instruments in areas ranging from business integrity to international investment and green growth. Adherence to these instruments is an expression of a long-standing co-operation between countries in North Africa and the OECD.

Governments that foster open markets and resist protectionism have the best chance of stimulating inclusive economic growth and creating high-value jobs, according to a new study from 10 international organisations presented in Paris.

Colombia and Mexico are a step closer to beneffiting from cross border tax co-operation and information sharing. Colombia has signed, and Mexico has deposited its instrument of ratification for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.