This initial chapter of Going for Growth identifies five structural reform priorities for each OECD country, for the European Union as a whole, and for the BRIICS – Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa. The recommendations are aimed at addressing variations in labour productivity and labour use across these countries. Moderate and high income (mainly European) OECD countries need to improve their labour use mainly by reforming their benefit and job protection systems and labour taxes. The relatively wealthy Asian member countries face a more balanced set of challenges, with a greater focus on labour productivity. The reform challenges for lower income OECD countries and the BRIICS relate to their education systems and product market regulation, as well as labour informality. The chapter also reports the number of reform priorities that would directly and quickly improve the fiscal balance, and also estimates for most OECD countries the potential cost savings that could be reaped by implementing best practice in their national education and health care systems. It turns out that implementing many of the Going for Growth priorities could not only enhance living standards but also contribute to more balanced fiscal positions, as well as to lower global current account imbalances.