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This publication examines the major policy challenges, achievements and next steps for the creation of a more entrepreneurial population and a stronger SME sector in the Russian Federation, which are critical to the country’s economic growth and diversification. Despite less regulatory burdens and more subsidy financing for start-ups, production modernisation, innovation and exporting, framework conditions need to be improved in areas such as the rule of law, commercialising science and improving entrepreneurial skills and education. Gaps in SME and entrepreneurship programmes also need to be filled, such as through new initiatives for high-growth firms and large firm-SME linkages. Strengthening business development services infrastructure and improving access to finance are further important challenges. All these improvements will need to be spread across the regions of the Russian Federation if national objectives for growth and balanced spatial development are to be met.

The Russian government is pursuing a strategy of very high economic growth, and as part of that strategy, has embarked on a highly ambitious programme of electricity reform. This book focuses on key aspects of the proposed reforms including creation of market structures, rules and a regulatory framework that will foster competitive markets; tariff rebalancing; and removal of cross subsidies. It also raises concerns as to the pace of reform in related areas such as the need for complementary reform in Russia's natural gas sector.

Drawing on the OECD’s expertise in comparing country experiences and identifying best practices, this book tailors the OECD’s policy advice to the specific and timely priorities of Russia, focusing on how its government can make reform happen.

Urban and rural areas enjoy different and often complementary assets, and better integration between them is important for socio-economic performance. This report provides a framework to understand the changing relationships between urban and rural areas. It is focused on one approach that can enhance and better manage rural-urban relationships – the use of rural-urban partnerships. Specifically, it documents the characteristics of these partnerships and the factors that can hinder as well as enable rural-urban co-operation. Different governance approaches to manage rural-urban relationships are identified and discussed. Finally, recommendations are provided to help national, regional and local policy makers to build effective and sustainable rural-urban partnerships for better economic development.

Rural Well-being: Geography of Opportunities presents the latest iteration on this policy framework, reflecting several important changes in rural development in recent years. Fully taking into account the variety of situations characterising rural regions, the new policy framework leverages improved data and analysis while broadening the scope from economic focus to encompass the environmental and social dimensions of well-being. The new approach places the well-being of citizens at the forefront of its objective and recognises the diversity of rural places brought by a deeper understanding of their diverse and complex socio-economic systems and their connection to cities. The framework also looks to the future and unfolding megatrends such as globalisation, digitalisation, climate change and demographic change. It reflects on how these will impact rural economies and reviews policy options to mitigate the challenges and capitalise on opportunities as well as to develop resilience against emerging crises. Finally, recognising the strong interdependencies between different stakeholders and the need for partnerships between government, the private sector and civil society to successfully implement policies, the Rural Well-being Policy Framework focuses on governance mechanisms, including the OECD Principles on Rural Policy.

Rural regions in Colombia have untapped potential to boost wealth and well-being in the country. Despite remarkable economic growth over the last two decades, Colombia’s development policy needs to increase its focus on rurality, as regional inequalities remain high by OECD standards and structural challenges still prevent greater development in rural places. This report assesses trends, challenges and opportunities of rural Colombia and examines the country’s rural development policy. It offers recommendations to mobilise rural assets and improve rural well-being with a focus on: strengthening multi-government coordination and policy implementation; enhancing transport and broadband connectivity as well as accessibility to quality education and health and; improving land use management in rural Colombia.

In October 2003, the OECD, together with the Chinese Government, invited industry experts to take stock of the achievements China has made in agricultural finance and credit infrastructure, and discuss future challenges in this area. Chinese policy makers and experts, representatives from the World Bank, FAO, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Development Bank and PlaNet Finance came together to share their views and experience. This report outlines the main issues discussed, and considers the role that the Chinese government should play within the reform process, now and in the future.

Sound policy making and regulatory policy are critical for responsive, efficient government and public service delivery. This report analyses the institutional and policy framework for policy making and regulatory policy in the Palestinian Authority. It includes recommendations for improving the planning and co-ordination of policy making and legislative commitments and for enhancing regulatory and operational guidance for harmonised policy and law development. The first part provides a general analysis of the different stages of policy design, while the second part focusses more specifically on regulatory policy and related impact assessment tools.

This OECD Emission Scenario Document (ESD) provides information on the sources, use patterns and release pathways of chemicals used as additives in rubber industry to assist in the estimation of releases of chemicals to the environment.
 

This brochure is published within the framework of the Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables established by OECD in 1962. It comprises explanatory notes and high quality photographs to facilitate the uniform interpretation of the Root and Tubercle Vegetables standard. It is thus a valuable tool for the inspection authorities, professional bodies and traders interested in international trade of Root and Tubercle Vegetables.

This report looks at the state of health in Romania.

Romania’s education system has made impressive strides over the past two decades, with an increasing share of students mastering the basic competencies that they need for life and work. But these average improvements mask significant disparities in learning outcomes and attainment, with an increasing share of students leaving education early without basic skills. This review, developed in cooperation with UNICEF, provides Romania with recommendations to help strengthen its evaluation and assessment system, by reducing the weight of high stake examinations and creating more space for the formative discussions and feedback that are integral to improving learning and teaching. It will be of interest to Romania, as well as other countries looking to make more effective use of their evaluation and assessment system to improve quality and equity, and result in better outcomes for all students.

The buildings sector plays a key role in decarbonising the global economy. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), buildings account for close to a quarter of the region’s total final energy consumption and energy-related CO2 emissions. With continued economic development, urbanisation and population growth across the region, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) analysis shows that both final energy consumption and CO2 emissions in buildings will continue to grow without ambitious policy actions. Improving the energy efficiency of building envelopes and systems, increasing renewable energy utilisation, phasing out the use of traditional biomass and switching to clean cooking and electricity, while enhancing energy access for vulnerable households across the region, can result in more than a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions from buildings by 2040 in relation to 2020, and provide many other benefits to households, society and governments.The Roadmap for Energy-Efficient Buildings and Construction in ASEAN focuses on the policy tools available for ASEAN Member States to drive energy efficiency improvements in the building sector to help meet growing needs for residential and non-residential floor space and energy services, while limiting the growth in energy demand and related emissions. It identifies key energy-efficient and lowcarbon actions and activities that governments could consider for implementation by 2025, 2030 and beyond, moving towards net zero-carbon buildings.

Space cooling is the fastest-growing use of energy in buildings globally and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Electricity use for cooling in buildings across the region has increased dramatically over the past decades. Yet today, only 15% of households in Southeast Asia have an air conditioner; fans represent around another 9% of residential energy use. With continued economic development and population growth across the region, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that air conditioner ownership across the ASEAN Member States (AMS) will continue to grow. This growth could see electricity demand from space cooling in the region grow to 300 TWh in 2040 – approximately equivalent to the total electricity consumption of Indonesia and Singapore combined.The Roadmap towards Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Space Cooling in ASEAN focuses on the policy tools available for AMS to drive energy efficiency improvements for space cooling. It sets ambitious milestones for space cooling technologies, including air conditioners and fans, that can help guide the ambitions outlined in this roadmap and subsequent action across ASEAN.

Road and Rail Infrastructure in Asia: Investing in Quality discusses the challenges facing the region and possible policy options, including those previously or currently used in Emerging Asian countries, with reference to the experiences of OECD member countries. It provides analysis and recommendations for the region’s policy makers to consider in their efforts to improve the quality of infrastructure. In particular, it highlights the importance of considering the spill-over effects of infrastructure in investment decisions. A comprehensive infrastructure impact evaluation does not simply consider the financial feasibility of an individual project, but attempts to judge the full extent of the externalities of planned investments, looking at the positive and negative economic, social and environmental effects over different time periods. The report first presents project case studies, illustrating how policy makers have incorporated the principles of quality infrastructure. It then examines the local economic impact of infrastructure, the role of local governments in infrastructure development and the benefits and challenges of their involvement. It then goes on to discuss different infrastructure financing options including funding from public and private sectors, as well as public-private partnerships, and concludes with a focus on fostering improved alignment between national development strategies and infrastructure planning.