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Economic Policy Reforms 2005

Going for Growth

image of Economic Policy Reforms 2005
Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth is a new annual periodical – intended as a complement to the OECD Economic Outlook and OECD Economic Surveys – which gives an overview of structural policy developments in OECD countries.  The report pinpoints structural policy priorities to enhance GDP per capita for all member countries, and ways to improve labour productivity and utilisation are identified on the basis of cross-country comparisons of policy settings.

A chapter presenting key structural policy indicators (including labour costs and taxation, unemployment and disability benefits, product market regulation, trade barriers, educational attainment and public investment) is followed by a comprehensive Country Notes chapter, consisting of individual analytical sections for each member country and the European Union.

Each issue of Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth will also present several in-depth thematic studies. The topics covered in this first issue are: product market regulation, retirement effects of old-age pension and early retirement schemes, female labour force participation and the long-term budgetary implications of tax-favoured retirement saving plans.

English Also available in: French

Female Labour Force Participation

Past Trends and Main Determinants in OECD Countries

Policy and market failures can depress female participation in the labour force and current participation rates are below levels desired by women. Female participation can be boosted by a more neutral tax treatment of second earners (relative to single individuals), stronger tax incentives to share market work between spouses, childcare subsidies, and paid maternity and parental leaves. Married women indeed remain more highly taxed than men and single women, and the level of family support (through childcare subsidies and paid parental leaves) differs widely across countries. Part-time employment can also help reconcile work and family demands. However, preferences for part-time labour vary across countries.

English Also available in: French

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