Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth

by OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

This book takes stock of the progress made by OECD member countries in implementing policy reforms and suggests future priorities for each. It examines how states with weak labor utilization, as some European countries, could increase labor force participation and thus raise living standards. The publication also discusses how countries with comparatively low labor productivity, such as Japan, could reduce their income gap relative to the leading countries. It also suggests policy priorities for strongly performing countries. Economic Policy Reforms provides a rich set of recent comparative indicators covering structural policy areas such as labor markets, education, and product market regulation. These indicators enable countries to see their economic performance and structural policies in comparison with others. In addition, the book contains four analytical chapters covering: Trends in product market regulation in OECD countries, including recent indicators The effects of pension schemes on the labor-force participation of older workers The trends and determinants of the labor-force participation of women The long-term budgetary implications of tax-favored retirement saving plans

193 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2006

About the author

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 35 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seeking answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members.

In 1948, the OECD originated as the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), led by Robert Marjolin of France, to help administer the Marshall Plan (which was rejected by the Soviet Union and its satellite states). This would be achieved by allocating American financial aid and implementing economic programs for the reconstruction of Europe after World War II. (Similar reconstruction aid was sent to the war-torn Republic of China and post-war Korea, but not under the name "Marshall Plan".)

In 1961, the OEEC was reformed into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and membership was extended to non-European states. Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries.

The OECD's headquarters are at the Château de la Muette in Paris, France. The OECD is funded by contributions from member states at varying rates.