OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, said that it was with a heavy heart and a debt of gratitude that the world was bidding farewell to Nelson Mandela.

Ministers from 25 countries closed their meeting on regions and cities in Marseille, France today with a call on national governments to rethink their territorial development policies in order to create more dynamic and inclusive economic growth and to improve the wellbeing of all citizens regardless of where they live.

Mr Gurría said the trade facilitation agreement at the core of the new package would cut red tape and speed border crossings worldwide, offering an important boost to world trade and the global economy. "As OECD work has highlighted, the benefits of lowering costs for traders are significant, and are particularly welcome today, given the slow growth seen in so many countries," Mr Gurría said.

Israel’s economy is in good shape, but further efforts are needed to fight poverty and close the gap in living standards with other leading nations, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Israel.

Sweden’s health and elderly care systems deserve their reputation as being among the best in the world. Yet an ageing population with growing chronic conditions and requiring more complex health services are testing Sweden’s ability to continue delivering high-quality care, according to a new OECD report.

G20 GDP growth picks up to 0.9% in third quarter of 2013; up from 0.8% recorded in the previous quarter, according to preliminary estimates.

Tax revenues continue bouncing back from the low levels reported in almost all countries during 2008 and 2009, at the height of the global economic crisis, according to new OECD data in the annual Revenue Statistics publication. The average tax revenue to GDP ratio in OECD countries was 34.6% in 2012, compared with 34.1% in 2011 and 33.8% in 2010.

The OECD will release a review of Spain’s 2012 labour market reform at a press conference in Madrid at 10.30 AM on Wednesday 18 December 2013.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery will release a report tomorrow Wednesday 18 December at 12.00 CET/11.00 Dublin time on Ireland’s efforts to fight foreign bribery.

Spain has taken courageous steps to strengthen its labour market. Recent reforms have helped create jobs and should further boost competitiveness and employment in the years to come. But additional efforts are needed to boost competition in product markets and to improve assistance to job seekers, particularly young people, according to a new OECD report.