Mr. Angel Gurría was in Brisbane to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit on 15-16 November. Prior to the Summit, the Secretary-General attended a G20 Finance Ministers Meeting, as well as L20 and B20 meetings.

This country note provides information on latest trends in income inequalities as well as key findings from the 2015 OECD report "In it Together: Why less inequality benefits all".

Australia has been successful at reducing the mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. The mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has decreased over the past 50 years at a faster pace than the OECD average, reaching 208 per 100 000 population, 30% lower than the OECD average of 299 in 2011.

Australia has stepped up its enforcement of foreign bribery since 2012, when the OECD Working Group on Bribery last evaluated Australia’s implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, with seven convictions in two cases and 19 ongoing investigations.

Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity: nearly one in three adults are obese. As a result, Australians live on average 2.7 years less due to overweight. The impact on the economy is large: overweight accounts for 8.6% of health expenditure; and lowers labour market outputs by the equivalent of 371 thousand full time workers per year. Combined, this means that overweight reduces Australia’s GDP by 3.1%.

ICU Beds in Ukraine averaged 863.93 per 100K people from 1980 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 1065.73 per 100K people in December of 1991 and a record low of 613.31 per 100K people in December of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for Ukraine ICU Beds.

The Phase 3 Report on Japan by the OECD Working Group on Bribery evaluates and makes recommendations on Japan'simplementation and application of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.

Global economic activity is picking up, but the continuing crisis in the euro area is delaying a meaningful recovery, the OECD said in its latest Interim Economic Assessment.

OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, congratulated Japanese Prime Minister Abe on his announcement today that Japan will raise its consumption tax as legislated from the current 5% to 8% next April.

The global economic crisis has had a profound impact on people’s well-being, reaching far beyond the loss of jobs and income, and affecting citizens’ satisfaction with their lives and their trust in governments, according to a new OECD report.

Japan joined the OECD in 1964, the same year it hosted the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. OECD membership signalled Japan’s successful transition into a fully industrialised economy, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida writes on the 50th anniversary of his country’s accession.

The OECD has now grown into an institution of truly global relevance. And Japan, which was the first Asian country to join the organisation, is now a world economic giant. It is a great honour to introduce the Chairman of the 2014 Ministerial Council Meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Due to serious concerns about the extremely low level of enforcement of Japan’s offence of bribing foreign public officials – just three prosecutions since 1999 – the OECD Working Group on Bribery recommended in December 2013 that Japan establish an Action Plan to organise police and prosecution resources to be able to proactively detect, investigate and prosecute cases of foreign bribery by Japanese companies.

Elderly individuals with complex, chronic diseases need continuous and tailored care to maintain their health and maximise their ability to participate in society. Japan must change the way it delivers health services for older citizens by strengthening its specialist primary care and making mental health care services more widely available, according to a new OECD report.

While the outlook for many OECD countries remains subdued, Emerging Asia is set for healthy growth over the medium term. Annual GDP growth for the ASEAN -10, China and India is forecast to average 6.5% over 2015-19. Growth momentum remains robust in the 10 ASEAN countries, with economic growth averaging 5.6% over 2015-19.

The Japanese economy is on a path to stronger growth, but fundamental structural reforms are urgently needed to promote a more robust recovery, address high levels of government debt and reverse a trend toward declining living standards, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Japan.

This country note provides information on latest trends in income inequalities as well as key findings from the 2015 OECD report "In it Together: Why less inequality benefits all".

Japan has been successful at reducing the mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) but there is room to reduce the burden of CVD and diabetes even more.

日本は心疾患による死亡率を減少させるのに成功したが、心疾患と糖尿病の負担をさらに減らす余 地は残されている

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, shared his sustained support for the victims and their families.

In December 2014, the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions agreed to send a High Level Mission to Japan due to longstanding serious concerns about Japan’s implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

A high-level Working Group mission will visit Tokyo on 29-30 June 2016 and meet senior Japanese government officials.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Transactions has continuously urged Japan since 2002 to strengthen its efforts to fight bribery by Japanese companies in their foreign business activities, and implementation of the Convention on Combating the Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

To improve productivity and help address socio-economic challenges, such as ageing, Japan needs to strengthen its innovation performance.

Japan’s agriculture sector has traditionally been characterised by small-scale rice production, but has recently begun to respond to new market opportunities for higher value food products across a rapidly growing East Asia. Today, rice represents less than 20% of the value of agriculture production, and larger, more productive, and more profitable farm businesses now account for more than half of total agriculture output.

Japan must step up enforcement of its foreign bribery laws and strengthen the capacities of its law enforcement agencies to proactively detect, investigate and prosecute the foreign bribery offence, according to a new report by the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

Hospital Beds in Luxembourg decreased to 4.51 per 1000 people in 2018 from 4.66 per 1000 people in 2017. Hospital Beds in Luxembourg averaged 5.30 per 1000 people from 2004 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 6.39 per 1000 people in 2004 and a record low of 4.51 per 1000 people in 2018. This page includes a chart with historical data for Luxembourg Hospital Beds.

ICU Beds in Luxembourg averaged 430.98 per 100K people from 2004 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 502.28 per 100K people in December of 2004 and a record low of 395.70 per 100K people in December of 2012. This page includes a chart with historical data for Luxembourg ICU Beds.

Exports of Plastic & Rubber Articles in South Africa increased to 1739.09 ZAR Million in March from 1626.60 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Plastic & Rubber Articles in South Africa averaged 1528.57 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 2005.67 ZAR Million in February of 2019 and a record low of 865.51 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Plastic & Rubber Articles.

Exports of Plastics & Rubber CMLV in South Africa increased to 4849.04 ZAR Million in March from 3122.78 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Plastics & Rubber CMLV in South Africa averaged 9476.78 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 20766.44 ZAR Million in December of 2019 and a record low of 855.76 ZAR Million in January of 2015. South Africa accounts for Exports of Plastics & Rubber using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Plastics & Rubber CMLV.

Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa increased to 3490.92 ZAR Million in March from 2608.19 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa averaged 2920.53 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 4194.88 ZAR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of 1704.27 ZAR Million in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Exports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco.

Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa increased to 2612.43 ZAR Million in March from 2292.20 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco in South Africa averaged 2502.29 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 3674.84 ZAR Million in October of 2019 and a record low of 1707.09 ZAR Million in June of 2014. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Prepared Foodstuffs Beverages & Tobacco.

Imports of Plastics & Rubber CMLV in South Africa increased to 11709.39 ZAR Million in March from 8023.93 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Plastics & Rubber CMLV in South Africa averaged 25745.93 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 53991.18 ZAR Million in December of 2018 and a record low of 3897.43 ZAR Million in January of 2016. South Africa accounts for Imports of Plastics & Rubber using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Plastics & Rubber CMLV.

Imports of Plastic & Rubber Articles in South Africa increased to 3685.54 ZAR Million in March from 3645.15 ZAR Million in February of 2020. Imports of Plastic & Rubber Articles in South Africa averaged 4053.50 ZAR Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 5245.29 ZAR Million in October of 2018 and a record low of 3104.16 ZAR Million in December of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for South Africa Imports of Plastic & Rubber Articles.

ICU Beds in Andorra averaged 228.16 per 100K people from 1996 until 2009, reaching an all time high of 283.17 per 100K people in December of 2002 and a record low of 189.84 per 100K people in December of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for Andorra ICU Beds.

The transition from education to work is not easy for many young people, particularly when it comes to finding sustainable employment with progression opportunities. Recently established national policies to support youth will be only effective if implemented in a coordinated way at local level.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery regrets that Austria has not had a conviction of bribing foreign public officials despite a number of allegations, 13 years after ratifying the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. However, enforcement appears to be picking up, with one case being tried, two more cases soon to be tried, and four ongoing investigations.

The global economic crisis has had a profound impact on people’s well-being, reaching far beyond the loss of jobs and income, and affecting citizens’ satisfaction with their lives and their trust in governments, according to a new OECD report.

Environmental goods and services are now a bigger driver of Austria’s economy and job market than traditionally strong sectors like tourism and construction, thanks to the government’s policy of subsidising green investments, a new OECD report shows.

Austria has taken important steps to improve its school system, but needs to reform its complex school governance to further improve quality and equity, according to a new OECD report.

The Secretary-General held bilateral meetings with Federal Chancellor Christian Kern and several high-level Austrian officials.

Mr. Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD, was in Vienna on 7-8 September 2018 to attend the Eurogroup Meeting / Informal Meeting of Economic and Financial Affairs Ministers (ECOFIN).

Austria stands out for its high levels of economic and social well-being. Preserving these will require reforms to improve competition in the service sector, increase access to risk capital for firms of all sizes, encourage more women and migrants into the workforce and lengthen work lives to reflect the ageing population, according to a new OECD report.

This seminar aimed to advance shared understandings on policies to make the most of cross-border capital flows in support of growth and development and on the value of international co-operation, including the OECD Codes of Liberalisation, in the current context of serious global financial turbulence.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría opens the Global Forum on Better Governance for Inclusive Growth held in Paris. The Forum will focus on public sector reforms worldwide and identify lessons learned, good practices and innovative solutions for advancing the governance reforms necessary to foster inclusive growth.

At a time when many governments are looking to encourage private investment in infrastructure to bridge the infrastructure financing gap, this paper compares the experience of pension funds in Canada and Australia, looking at infrastructure policies, the pension system, investment strategies, asset allocation and governance of pension funds.

This report provides an overview of the status of financial education programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean, discusses their rationale, and offers initial guidance for policy makers.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: This Symposium addressed cutting-edge issues to further integrate financial education and financial consumer protection policies with a view to enhancing financial well-being and to address the challenges and identify solutions in delivering effective financial education.

The OECD presented today the final package of measures for a comprehensive, coherent and co-ordinated reform of the international tax rules to be discussed by G20 Finance Ministers at their meeting on 8 October, in Lima, Peru.

The Danish financial sector is big and there is a high degree of inter-connectedness between banks, mortgage institutions and pension funds.