OECD

The global economic crisis is affecting families and communities across the planet. Restoring stability, confidence and growth is the priority: the OECD is working with the world's governments and other organizations to get economies moving again.

As we face up to the worst recession for decades, the OECD is working to help governments soften the impact of this crisis for those who will be worst hit and to lay the foundations of a stronger global economy for the generations to come.

Our strategic response to the crisis covers two main areas. We emphasize the need to align regulations and incentives in the financial sector to ensure tighter oversight and risk management. And we urge governments to review and upgrade their national policies and improve international coordination in order to restore the conditions for economic growth.

How did the crisis happen?

Jorgen Elmeskov, the OECD's acting chief economist, looks at the causes and characteristics of the global economic downturn.

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http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/59/49/42843570.pdf

World trade set to fall 13 percent, OECD urges governments to avoid protectionism

With world trade volumes likely to shrink by as much as 13 percent in 2009 from 2008 levels, the OECD is urging governments to avoid protectionist measures and keep markets open in order to allow economies to benefit from the recovery when it comes.

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http://www.oecd.org/document/12/0,3343,en_2649_37431_42788172_1_1_1_1,00.html

Governments must do more to help most vulnerable amid rising unemployment

It is crucial that governments align short-term social protection measures taken in response to the downturn, with longer-term goals of economic security and strong labour force participation.

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http://www.oecd.org/document/0/0,3343,en_2649_37457_42765056_1_1_1_1,00.html

The "Global Standard" of the 21st Century

Mr. Gurría spoke in Rome of the need to shape a new set of instruments which will represent the ‘founding principles' of this cleaner global economy.

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http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34487_42747657_1_1_1_1,00.html

Labour productivity was already slowing ahead of crisis

Recently released economic data show that the causes of the crisis were not only financial. Labour productivity growth - how much is produced per worker - was already slowing well before the crisis broke.

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http://www.oecd.org/document/24/0,3343,en_2649_34487_42721688_1_1_1_1,00.html

G7 Finance Ministers, Central Bankers urge stronger world financial oversight

In a statement following their 24 April meeting in Washington, ministers and governors urged the OECD and FATF to intensify their work in conducting objective peer reviews of countries' efforts to strengthen international standards in taxation, prudential supervision, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, and to identify non-cooperative jurisdictions and develop a toolbox of effective countermeasures.

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http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg101.htm

Tax haven crackdown will benefit developing countries, says OECD's Gurría

In an article published on the OECD's website ahead of the 2009 spring meetings in Washington of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Gurría said improving the effectiveness of developing countries' tax systems is the "new frontier" in development policy.

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http://www.oecd.org/document/14/0,3343,en_2649_37427_42630286_1_1_1_1,00.html

Making a real recovery happen

Momentum is now building within the G8 and G20 to develop common principles and standards on integrity, transparency and propriety for a range of other global challenges, including investment, the environment, labour and health. This is key to a strong recovery, according to Mr. Gurría.

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http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/2862/Making_a_real_recovery_happen.html

G20 summit and beyond

Key OECD data, analysis and recommendations submitted to the G20 in view of the summit, as well as back up references on the economic outlook and international policy instruments and standards, are available online. So are the G20 documents that mention OECD work.

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http://www.oecd.org/document/2/0,3343,en_2649_201185_42554946_1_1_1_1,00.html