With lagging productivity and slow job growth, many OECD governments are looking for new sources of growth and have also recognised the importance of services in this regard. Services already account for around 70% of gross domestic product (GDP) in OECD countries. The expansion of services has largely been fuelled by globalisation and widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to provide more standardised services (health, education, government services). New market opportunities for services are also created by deregulation and privatisation of the public sector (financial, telecommunications and energy services) as well as by outsourcing of activities by manufacturing firms.