Publications

Will be released on 30 April 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 47

Regulation is one of the most powerful tools governments have at their disposal to achieve environmental goals. While the need to address climate change is clear, governments face persistent difficulties in designing, implementing, and evaluating effective environmental regulations. The OECD Better Regulation for the Green Transition Toolkit offers government officials, regulators, stakeholders and experts a tool for assessing the resilience and effectiveness of their national regulatory policy frameworks for the green transition. Developed in collaboration with the Government of Korea, the toolkit features assessment criteria aligned with the design, delivery, and evaluation phases of the regulatory policy cycle. It enables policymakers to identify gaps, evaluate framework robustness, and measure implementation effectiveness in supporting environmental objectives, while recognising trade-offs with other policy goals. This paper emphasises how systemic, inclusive, and adaptive regulatory practices can contribute to accelerating the global green transition.

Optimising analytical resources

Will be released on 30 April 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 25

The 2012 Recommendation of the Council on Regulatory Policy and Governance emphasises that OECD countries should adopt ex ante impact assessment practices that are proportional to the significance of the regulation’s anticipated impacts. This paper presents a proposal for a proportionality test for the ex ante analysis and ex post review of regulations in Thailand. It provides the theoretical foundations and introduces a structure for how threshold and proportionality tests can be administered within the decision-making process of Thailand’s legislative system. The paper concludes with key recommendations for Thailand on how proportionality and threshold tests should be structured within the country’s RIA system.

Beyond the hype

Will be released on 30 April 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 51

Will be released on 30 April 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 12

This edition of FDI in Figures shows that in 2024, global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows rose by 1% compared to 2023, but fell by 9% when excluding large transactions in selected European countries. Amid widespread geopolitical challenges, cross-border M&A activity also struggled to recover, with deal values increased by just 9% from a decade-low. Published twice yearly, FDI in Figures analyses key developments and trends in global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows using the most recent official FDI statistics.

Decomposition of Personal Income Taxes and the Role of Tax Reliefs

Will be released on 30 April 2025 at 11:00 CET
Author: OECD
Languages: English-French
Number of pages: 206

This annual publication provides details of taxes paid on wages in OECD countries. This year’s edition focuses on the decomposition of personal income taxes and the role of tax reliefs, which can take the form of tax allowances or tax credits on the taxes levied by different levels of government. For the year 2024, the report also examines personal income taxes and social security contributions paid by employees, social security contributions and payroll taxes paid by employers, and cash benefits received by workers. It illustrates how these taxes and benefits are calculated in each member country and examines how they impact household incomes. The results also enable quantitative cross-country comparisons of labour cost levels and the overall tax and benefit position of single persons and families on different levels of earnings. The publication shows average and marginal effective tax rates on labour costs for eight different household types, which vary by income level and household composition (single persons, single parents, one or two earner couples with or without children). The average tax rates measure the part of gross wage earnings or labour costs taken in tax and social security contributions, both before and after cash benefits, and the marginal tax rates the part of a small increase of gross earnings or labour costs that is paid in these levies.

New Evidence for Policymaking

Will be released on 2 May 2025
Authors: OECD, Boston Consulting Group, INSEAD
Language: English
Number of pages: 196

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help to address sluggish productivity growth in OECD countries. This book provides evidence for policymakers, business leaders, and researchers to help understand the adoption of AI in enterprises and the policies needed to enable this. The core analysis draws on a new policy-oriented survey of AI in enterprises across the Group of Seven (G7) countries and Brazil, complemented by interviews with business representatives. The book offers a comprehensive examination of barriers to the use of AI and examines actionable solutions, including in the areas of training and education, qualification frameworks, public-private research partnerships, and public data. Also examined is the work of public institutions that seek to facilitate the diffusion of digital technologies, including AI. Further, this book highlights the need for better policy evaluation, greater international comparability in surveys of AI, and studies of generative AI in business (widespread interest in which began after this survey).

Will be released on 2 May 2025 at 04:00 CET
Author: OECD
Languages: French-English-Thai
Number of pages: 75

Peer reviews of competition law and policy are a valuable tool to reform and strengthen a country’s competition framework. This peer review of Thailand presents the evolution of its competition regime over the last few years and assesses the effectiveness of its current competition law and policy. It provides recommendations to help Thailand strengthen its competition regime and institutions, developed and discussed at the peer review examination carried out during the 2024 Global Forum on Competition.

Will be released on 5 May 2025
Authors: Cormac Everard, Sabine Vuik, Aliénor Lerouge, Michele Cecchini
Language: English
Number of pages: 49

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are among the leading drivers of disability and death across OECD countries. NCDs frequently co-occur with depression, which can worsen NCD outcomes, lower quality of life and increase healthcare costs. It is therefore important to understand whether and to what extent NCDs increase the risk of experiencing depression. This paper finds that people living with NCDs have a 15% to 27% higher risk of experiencing depression, depending on the condition, that risk increases with the number of NCDs, and that the relationship appears to be causal. It finds that women and people in financial hardship are more likely to experience depression. The findings have important policy implications: 1) Consideration should be given to mental health and wellbeing in NCD policy, which can yield health and healthcare cost benefits. 2) Strategies to reduce NCD incidence may also reduce depression, and mental health co-benefits should be considered when developing health promotion policies.

Policies for a green, innovative, and smart economy

Will be released on 5 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 41

Will be released on 5 May 2025 at 08:00 CET
Author: OECD
Languages: English-French
Number of pages: 297

Will be released on 6 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 118

The economy of Panama has exhibited strong growth since the turn of the century, and despite shrinking by 18% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recovered quickly in subsequent years. This recovery reflects the country’s economic resilience, buttressed by a fiscal response to the crisis commensurate with the dimension of the challenge, mobilising 3% of GDP to fight the pandemic. The crisis also highlighted significant vulnerabilities in Panama’s development model, including the dual nature of its labour market, where less productive informal work remains widespread, and the limited reach of its social protection system. In contrast to the rapid economic rebound, the social consequences of the pandemic are likely to be more long-lasting effects. The response and stimulus packages found new ways to address these issues innovating in social protection, in support to the productive sector and in mobilisation of resources. This report draws lessons from policy measures implemented during the pandemic and recovery phase and applies them to current strategic challenges. In doing so, it highlights policy priorities to make Panama’s development path more inclusive, stronger and more resilient.

Will be released on 6 May 2025 at 09:00 CET
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 294

Ukraine has made significant strides in reforming its anti-corruption framework in the past decade. It has done so by enhancing transparency, accountability, and integrity through open data, digitalisation, and bolstering of the independence of anti-corruption bodies. However, corruption risks remain high in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which makes having a robust public integrity system more critical than ever to ensure a transparent and effective reconstruction process. This review delivers recommendations to strengthen Ukraine’s legal and institutional framework, embed a culture of integrity in state bodies and society, enhance judicial accountability, and reinforce control and audit mechanisms. It also explores ways to reinforce whistleblower protection, implement lobbying regulations and promote business integrity – through awareness raising, adoption of company-level anti-corruption compliance programmes and incentivising good corporate behaviour through public advantages and criminal law measures. Together, these measures can help to promote trust, drive economic recovery and sustain international support for Ukraine now and in the future.

Will be released on 7 May 2025
Authors: OECD, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia
Language: English
Number of pages: 166

Ageing will be very fast in Southeast Asia and most ASEAN countries have a very large share of informal employment. Promoting active ageing aims to ensure that older people can age healthily and independently and avoid feeling insecure, in particular in terms of income. This could be achieved by putting into action policies that foster the well-being of older people through their participation in the labour market and their engagement in various aspects of life, such as volunteering. Key active ageing policies in the ten ASEAN countries should focus on: tackling labour market informality; reducing gender inequalities in old age and improving care provision; providing inclusive access to health care; enhancing social protection in old age; and, promoting the social participation of older people. This report highlights the main measures to be taken in these five areas.

Will be released on 7 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 180

The New Professionalism and the Future of Teaching project has devised a theoretical framework that allows stakeholders in education to construct a shared vision on what the teaching profession could look like in the future. This study in Austria seeks to anticipate and increase deeper, structured thinking about medium- and long-term scenarios for teacher professionalism and empowerment. Potential benefits for the system include long-term strategic thinking regarding the Austrian teacher workforce and finding solutions to issues that transcend the short-term. The results of the study point to a focus on collaborative school cultures, teacher autonomy and professional identity, leadership (on various levels) and an innovation culture with a diversity of roles within the teacher workforce, as elements of specific importance in thinking about the possible future of the teaching profession in Austria.

Global Trends and Enforcement Challenges

Will be released on 7 May 2025
Authors: OECD, European Union Intellectual Property Office
Language: English
Number of pages: 60

The increasing interconnectedness of global economies has created new opportunities for trade and innovation, yet it has also become more challenging to protect intellectual property and enforce trade regulations. Expanding supply chains and the rise of e-commerce have facilitated illicit trade, particularly in the trade of counterfeit goods; these pose risks to public safety, disrupt legitimate businesses, and impact economic stability. This report provides an analysis of global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods, using the latest (2021) customs seizure data. It offers an overview of the scope, scale, and key characteristics of such illicit trade, with a focus on the European Union. The findings are concerning: in 2021, counterfeit and pirated goods accounted for up to 2.3% of global trade and up to 4.7% of EU imports. This report also examines emerging trends and highlights the need for co-ordinated international efforts to secure supply chains.

Will be released on 7 May 2025 at 09:00 CET
Author: OECD
Languages: English-French
Number of pages: 84

Le rôle de la fiscalité générale, des cotisations sociales et de la contribution du secteur informel

Will be released on 12 May 2025 at 11:00 CET
Author: OECD
Language: French
Number of pages: 150

L’ampleur de l’emploi informel et la faiblesse de l’assistance sociale témoignent des défis importants en matière de protection sociale auxquels le Sénégal fait face. Aujourd’hui, moins d’un Sénégalais sur quatre bénéficie d’un programme de protection sociale, tandis que les prestations associées restent limitées. Ce rapport explore comment le pays peut élargir la couverture sociale et garantir son financement de manière durable. Il détaille les leviers pour élargir l’espace budgétaire, notamment par un renforcement de la mobilisation des recettes fiscales, une rationalisation des dépenses fiscales et une réforme des subventions à l’énergie. Le rapport examine également les mesures pertinentes pour renforcer les régimes contributifs et favoriser la transition vers le travail formel. Ce faisant, il offre des pistes de réflexions et recommandations pour les décideurs, chercheurs et partenaires au développement engagés dans le développement d’un système de protection sociale inclusif et durable au Sénégal.

Lessons from Lithuania, Italy, and Malta

Will be released on 14 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 108

Reforms for a Fair and Green Future

Will be released on 14 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 400

Insights from the OECD Risks that Matter Survey

Will be released on 15 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 120

Social spending has declined in the United Kingdom over the last decade or so, reflecting efforts to limit public spending in the wake of the financial crisis. Using data from the 2022 OECD Risks That Matter (RTM) Survey, a multi-country survey covering 27 OECD countries, this report examines perceptions of social risks and attitudes towards social protection in the United Kingdom. Results point to a country that feels relatively vulnerable to social risks, especially in comparison to several of its peers in the G7 and other wealthy OECD economies. Looking forward, there is strong support in the United Kingdom for an expansion of social protection. Results are consistent with evidence from UK sources that suggest attitudes in the United Kingdom have been shifting in favour of increased taxation, spending and redistribution.

Will be released on 15 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 14

Children today are growing up in a highly digitalised world, with nearly all 15-year-olds in OECD countries having access to smartphones and other digital devices. While digital technologies offer valuable opportunities for learning, socialisation, and entertainment, they also present significant risks, including exposure to harmful content, problematic media use, and online safety concerns. This Policy Insights highlights some of the key findings from the OECD report How’s Life for Children in the Digital Age? (2025) that explores these dynamics and shows a wide variation in digital use patterns across countries. It also emphasises the need for comprehensive policies to promote children's digital well-being, including stronger regulations, cross-sectoral collaboration, and guidance for parents and educators. It also calls for the integration of children's voices in policymaking and a better understanding of how online and offline factors interact. Evidence-based strategies must be built on solid data and expert input to ensure digital environments are safe, supportive, and aligned with children’s rights and developmental needs.

Will be released on 15 May 2025 at 11:00 CET
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 180

A Framework for Implementation

Will be released on 16 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 170

Highlights of a National Dialogue on Water

Will be released on 19 May 2025
Authors: OECD, Asia Water Council
Language: English
Number of pages: 170

Lessons from 14 Northern Sparsely Populated Areas

Will be released on 19 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 150

Will be released on 19 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 170

Strategies for Action

Will be released on 19 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 77

Many OECD countries are facing population decline and ageing, with these trends set to continue in the coming decades. However, these trends, and their effects, can differ markedly across space within countries. Urbanisation, for example, is increasing in most economies as people migrate from shrinking rural areas, yet even in urban areas, about one in five are also shrinking. These complexities pose challenges for policy makers at all levels of government, especially for depopulating places, where labour and skills shortages, lowering economies of scale for service provision, and eroding tax bases put increasing pressure on local development. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-level governance approach, looking across a wide range of policy areas, including the public finances, infrastructure, spatial planning, land use, social cohesion and service delivery. At the same time, policies should be tailored to the needs, challenges and opportunities of each region, combining effective adaptation strategies with efforts, including on attractiveness, to mitigate demographic decline. This report provides a comprehensive policy framework to support policy makers in responding to demographic change, helping them design and implement place-based strategies that foster resilience, inclusiveness and long-term sustainability.

Will be released on 19 May 2025 at 08:00 CET
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 205

This OECD report provides a roadmap for strengthening rural resilience by promoting people-centred policies that respond to the diverse challenges and opportunities facing different types of rural regions. Building on the OECD Rural Well-being Framework and Principles on Rural Policy, it distinguishes between rural regions near cities and rural remote regions to tailor more effective strategies. Amid global transformations such as the green transition, digitalisation, and demographic change, rural regions show potential in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital services. Yet, they face persistent issues including population decline, ageing and service gaps. The report outlines four STAR drivers of rural growth: Specific assets, Tradeable specialisation, Access to urban markets, and Resources (natural resources). It highlights enabling factors such as skills, entrepreneurship, and digital connectivity, and stresses the need for improved rural data, cross-government co-ordination, and stronger local voice. The report calls for differentiated policy actions to enhance competitiveness, service delivery, and environmental sustainability across rural types. In ensuring effective implementation of rural policy, the report explores key considerations such as effective communication, scale and co-ordination, and collection of reliable rural evidence.

Chasing the Innovation Frontier

Will be released on 21 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 120

Asia’s start-up scene is changing fast. This report sheds light on the region’s expanding innovation frontier, zooming in on the unique characteristics of start-up ecosystems in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam, and offers policy recommendations for accelerating their development.

Will be released on 22 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 166

Professionalising the State Procurement Function

Will be released on 23 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 104

In light of growing environmental challenges, public procurement is increasingly seen as a strategic lever for achieving the sustainable development objectives set by governments. France has set ambitious targets for the inclusion of environmental considerations in all public procurement contracts, including state procurement contracts, by 2026. Achieving these targets largely depends on the ability of state buyers to implement these environmental considerations in public procurement. This report takes stock of the capacity of stakeholders in the French state procurement function to implement environmental considerations in public procurement and identifies opportunities to strengthen the knowledge and the skills of state buyers.

From Evidence to Practice

Will be released on 23 May 2025 at 06:00 CET
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 93

Access to high-quality broadband connectivity at affordable prices is vital in today’s interconnected world, yet disparities between rural and urban areas − known as spatial connectivity divides − persist. As digital transformation accelerates, ensuring that everyone is connected “well” in terms of broadband availability, network quality and affordability − regardless of where they live − is more critical than ever. The first step in addressing this challenge is measuring the extent of these gaps to understand the state of connectivity and enable evidence-based policies. This report introduces a novel approach by leveraging third-party data for over 60 countries on various broadband indicators. By applying harmonised spatial definitions, it assesses broadband performance and availability at a subnational level in the urban-rural continuum. Drawing on these insights, the report explores how policymakers across the OECD and partner economies are setting both overarching policies and tailored approaches to close connectivity divides.

Will be released on 23 May 2025 at 09:00 CET
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 120

The Scoreboard, whose pilot version was first released in 2023, is a tool to monitor and assess the Western Balkans’ progress towards economic convergence with the European Union (EU). It supports policy-makers in pinpointing priority areas for narrowing the gap between the region and the EU, drawing on over 35 indicators across five policy clusters essential for sustainable and inclusive growth. These clusters are infrastructure and connectivity, skills, business environment, digital transformation and greening. The Scoreboard primarily draws on the data and input collected as part of decade-long policy assessments conducted by the OECD, most notably the Western Balkans Competitiveness Outlook and SME Policy Index for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

Updated evidence to inform national data collections

Will be released on 26 May 2025
Authors: Conal Smith, Jessica Mahoney, Margreet Frieling, Hinako Percival
Language: English
Number of pages: 73

This working paper examines globally inclusive approaches to measuring subjective well-being. The paper reviews concerns that existing research may be overly focused on certain population groups from wealthier countries, that are not internationally representative. While the evidence base that informed the 2013 OECD Guidelines on Measuring Subjective Well-being is found to draw on a wide range of cross-country studies, there are important gaps in global and intra-country sampling and certain populations remain underrepresented. An overview of new literature suggests four recurring classes of subjective well-being measures that are not currently well-captured: 1) low arousal positive affect; 2) relational affect; 3) social well-being; and 4) relational well-being. To enable inclusion of these measures, strong evidence is required to show that measures accurately reflect the intended concepts. Current evidence on the reliability and validity of most measures is limited and the paper concludes with a proposed question module for further testing.

Will be released on 27 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 230

Will be released on 27 May 2025 at 16:00 CET
Authors: OECD, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations, Inter-American Development Bank
Language: English
Number of pages: 220

This report compiles comparable tax revenue statistics over the period 1990-2023 for 26 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. It provides harmonised data on the level and structure of tax revenues based on the OECD classification of taxes, thereby enabling comparison of national tax systems on a consistent basis, both across the region and with other economies globally. The report includes two special features: one examines non-tax revenues in the LAC region while the second fiscal revenues from non-renewable natural resources in the LAC region in 2023 and 2024. The publication is jointly undertaken by the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, the OECD Development Centre, the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-ECLAC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Taking Stock and Moving Forward

Will be released on 28 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 300

Despite significant progress over the last century, women still fare worse than men in most economic, social and political outcomes in EU and OECD countries. Drawing on novel data and using a lifecycle approach, this report presents a comprehensive stocktaking of how women, men, girls and boys are faring across seven key policy areas – education and skills, paid and unpaid work, leadership and representation, health, gender-based violence, the green transition and the digital transitions. The challenges are significant. Recognising that closing gender gaps requires serious and co-ordinated policy commitments and actions, this report presents countries’ good practices in gender mainstreaming, encourages breaking down silos, and identifies useful policy combinations to advance gender equality. A conceptual framework is included for governments seeking to assess their own legal, policy and budgetary measures, to help countries transform gender equality commitments into action.

Toward a More Agile, Responsive and Effective Public Administration

Will be released on 29 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 280

Kazakhstan has made significant strides in public administration reform, guided by long-term strategies that have spurred economic growth, improved public services and strengthened institutional frameworks. Kazakhstan now seeks to accelerate reforms to enhance government efficiency, institutional accountability and digital transformation. This OECD Public Governance Scan assesses Kazakhstan’s governance reforms against international best practices, building on previous OECD reviews. It evaluates progress and identifies remaining challenges in four key areas: public administration modernisation, strategic planning and policy co-ordination, human resources management, and public sector innovation. Based on this analysis, the Scan provides targeted recommendations to help Kazakhstan develop a more agile, responsive and effective public administration, capable of addressing emerging global challenges and driving long-term national development.

Will be released on 30 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 100

Peru has made remarkable progress in delivering healthcare services over the past decades, leading to large improvements in most general population health indicators. Health insurance coverage has increased steadily since the 2009 health reforms. The country is now close to achieving universal health coverage, with the Integral Health Insurance (Seguro Integral de Salud) playing a crucial role in reaching poor and underserved rural communities. However, Peru continues to grapple with a health system that remains both segmented and fragmented, with multiple public sub-systems serving different population groups. The health system still lacks the integration and co-ordination needed to ensure equitable access to high-quality care for all Peruvians. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening quality governance, investing in high-impact healthcare service improvements, and curbing inefficiencies. This review assesses the performance of Peru’s health system and provides key recommendations for achieving a more equitable, efficient, and sustainable healthcare system aligned with OECD standards.

Will be released on 30 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 74

Governments around the world are making significant efforts to deliver more effective public services, reduce administrative burdens, improve communication, and enhance citizens’ experiences with government formalities. In these efforts, regulatory improvement tools such as administrative simplification, digital licensing, and one-stop shops play a central role. In recent years, Costa Rica has introduced the digital one-stop shop Single Investment Window (Ventanilla Unica de Inversiones, VUI), which brings together all the formalities necessary for investing in the country. The VUI reduces burdens for entrepreneurs and businesspersons by providing a single digital point of contact for various licenses and permits issued by different government agencies. In this way, it helps boost Costa Rica’s competitiveness and attract more investment. This report provides an overview of the VUI, as well as a comparative analysis of its design and operation using OECD best practice principles in one-stop shops as a benchmark. The report also provides recommendations to improve the performance of the VUI.

Ensuring Integrity and Efficiency

Will be released on 30 May 2025
Author: OECD
Language: English
Number of pages: 70