Suchergebnisse

Health is higher on the international agenda than ever before. Concern for the health of poor people is a central development issue. In addition to the intrinsic value of health for individuals, investment in health is an important and previously underestimated means of economic development; substantially improved health outcomes are a prerequisite if developing countries are to break out of the cycle of poverty. This DAC Reference Document on Poverty and Health, jointly published by the OECD and WHO, extends the analysis and recommendations of the DAC Guidelines on Poverty Reduction by setting out the essential components of a pro-poor health approach.

Lifelong learning is not yet a reality for all. Economic and financial factors continue to limit opportunities in ways that are neither efficient nor equitable. Part of the problem is that our societies still have the habit of viewing learning as something for the young, something that is state supported. There are deep-seated institutional and policy biases against investment in human capital. But promising signs of change have emerged in the past few years, including initiatives that make it easier for private and public actors to co-invest in lifelong learning. However, they do not yet represent systemic change. This report summarises the important economic and financial challenges that lifelong learning poses.

What is the impact of private health insurance (PHI) on health systems? How does it affect coverage of and access to health care services? What risks and opportunities does it pose for cost pressures on health systems? How does PHI improve responsiveness to consumers' choice and needs, and what is its impact on quality of care? What regulatory mechanisms and financial incentives can encourage equity, efficiency, and responsiveness from different insurance mixes and PHI markets?This report provides the first-ever comparative analysis of the role and performance of private health insurance (PHI)

Major reforms have been introduced into the regulatory governance system in France over the past 20 years. The role of the State in the economy has been reduced as the State has distanced itself from direct intervention, and State ownership of companies has declined significantly

Information and communications technology (ICT) has become a key driver of economic growth over the past decade. The rapid diffusion of the Internet, of mobile telephony and of broadband networks all demonstrate how pervasive this technology has become. But how precisely does ICT affect economic growth and the efficiency of firms? And how well can these effects be measured? This report provides an overview of the economic impact of ICT on economic performance, and the ways through which it can be measured. Using available OECD data, the first part of the book examines the available measures of ICT diffusion, the role and impact of ICT investment and the role of ICT-using and ICT-producing sectors in overall economic performance.

In the face of rapid population ageing and the trend towards early retirement, there is a need to promote better employment opportunities for older people. Much has been said about the need for reform of old-age pensions and early retirement schemes but this may not be sufficient to raise employment rates for older people significantly or to reduce the future risk of labour shortages

In the face of rapid population ageing and the trend towards early retirement, there is a need to promote better employment opportunities for older people. Much has been said about the need for reform of old-age pensions and early retirement schemes but this may not be sufficient to raise employment rates for older people significantly or to reduce the future risk of labour shortages

Expectations are running high for significant outcomes on the temporary movement of natural persons to supply services - known as mode 4 - in the current WTO services negotiations. Powerful drivers for liberalisation exist, such as increased trade and investment, strengthened global business networks, shortage of skills in developed countries, and increasing export capacity in skilled labour in developing countries

This report analyses recent trends in migration movements and policies in all OECD member countries and in selected non-member countries. It includes a detailed description of the flows, the different channels of immigration and the diversity of nationalities involved

Corporate scandals and failures as well as broader economic concerns have driven OECD countries to devote increased attention to corporate governance which is now recognised as a vital factor in economic growth and financial stability. Countries hardest hit by scandals have been active in policy reform initiatives, but others have also been compelled to examine their corporate governance systems for possible systemic weaknesses

Modernisation of service industries and the expansion of international trade have been important elements of the reform process in the Baltic States, aimed at establishing a business-friendly and pro-competitive environment for services in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Tradeable Permits: Policy Evaluation, Design and Reform The search for cost-effective environmental policy measures in OECD countries has led to an increase in the use of tradeable permit systems. After many years of experimenting in a limited number of countries, tradable permits in environmental policy can now offer effective solutions

Innovation increases companies' competitive advantage and spurs nations' economic growth. Businesses and public research organisations now patent more inventions than they did just a few years ago, and the number of patents filed in Europe, Japan and the United States increased by more than half over the past decade

In the face of rapid population ageing and the trend towards early retirement, there is a need to promote better employment opportunities for older people. Much has been said about the need for reform of old-age pensions and early retirement schemes but this may not be sufficient to raise employment rates for older people significantly or to reduce the future risk of labour shortages

China has experienced spectacular economic growth since 1978, averaging 8 to 9% per year. As a result, on average, people's standard of living is far higher than ever before in China's history. However, economic disparities have also widened very significantly during this period, raising questions about the appropriateness and sustainability of existing policies