OECD News and Economic Policy Updates
Belgium competitiveness reforms seen supporting growth and public finances
Belgium is showing resilience after recent energy shocks, but its medium-term growth outlook remains subdued as inflation stays elevated. New measures on competitiveness, pensions, healthcare and ...
OECD says farm support rises as distortive measures retain large share
Agricultural support across 56 countries reaches record levels in 2023-2025 as governments respond to repeated shocks with more short-term aid. The OECD says nearly half of that backing still ...
World Bank launches philanthropy hub as aid cuts widen development funding gap
With donor-government support falling sharply, the World Bank is opening a new channel for foundations, family offices, and wealthy individuals to direct money into its development pipeline. The ...
Philippines financial reforms highlight wider investment constraints
The Philippines is moving to modernize its financial markets with a new pricing convention for peso-denominated government bonds from Jan. 4, 2027, and planned inclusion in J.P. Morgan’s ...
OECD data highlight wide gaps in government spending across major economies
Government spending patterns across advanced economies are drawing renewed attention as policymakers face pressure to repair strained public finances. OECD functional expenditure data show large ...
UK business conduct complaints rise as scrutiny of environmental and labour risks grows
Pressure on multinationals operating in Britain is intensifying as complaints over corporate conduct rise sharply under expanded international standards. The increase reflects closer attention to ...
OECD report quantifies willingness to pay to avoid chemicals-related health effects
Chemical regulation increasingly requires governments to weigh compliance costs against harder-to-measure public health benefits. A new OECD report compiles internationally comparable estimates ...
Moody’s outlines AI use for transfer pricing oversight in public finance
Tax authorities are assessing artificial intelligence as a tool to strengthen oversight of transfer pricing as cross-border business structures become harder to monitor. The push comes as ...
OECD says reallocating social spending could lift child outcomes and curb future public costs
Across OECD countries, social spending has risen over the past two decades, but the share directed to families with children remains below 10% of the total. A new OECD report says a better ...
OECD says biodiversity finance continues to rise ahead of COP17
Global funding for biodiversity reaches an estimated USD 74.9 billion to USD 92.4 billion a year between 2023 and 2025, reflecting gains across public and private sources. The new assessment ...
Bank of England and partners open papers call for Paris capital flows workshop
Global policymakers are seeking fresh research on how capital flows respond to monetary shifts, geopolitical fragmentation and financial innovation. A joint workshop in Paris on 29 September 2026 ...
Global markets face pressure as shareholder rights erode
Investor protections that underpin public equity markets are coming under increasing pressure across Asia, Europe and the Americas. The shift spans voting power, disclosure standards, treatment of ...
OECD report highlights global education funding, outcomes and teacher shortage risks
The OECD is releasing its Education at a Glance 2026 report as policymakers seek comparable evidence on participation, funding and outcomes across education systems worldwide. This year's edition ...
Global debt tops $365 trillion as servicing costs strain major economies
Rising borrowing costs are intensifying pressure on public finances as debt levels keep climbing across the global economy. The burden is especially acute in advanced economies, where interest ...
UK central bank seen holding rates as OECD trims inflation outlook
The UK enters the next budget cycle with borrowing costs elevated and inflation still above target, but the OECD says monetary policy is already restrictive enough to avoid further rate increases. ...
OECD warns surging bond yields raise pressure on public finances
Rising sovereign borrowing costs are intensifying budget strains across advanced economies as governments devote a larger share of spending to debt interest. The OECD says the pressure is mounting ...
OECD lifts 2026 global growth outlook as AI investment cushions energy shock
Global growth is holding up slightly better in 2026 as spending on AI infrastructure supports activity despite a worsening energy shock linked to the Middle East conflict. The OECD now sees the ...
German institutes raise growth forecasts for Germany's economy
Germany's leading economic institutes are lifting their expectations for the country's growth outlook after previously projecting weaker expansion. The revised estimates point to faster growth in ...
Brussels delays EU digital tax decision amid push for global tech levy
The European Union is holding back from introducing a bloc-wide digital services tax as debate over future budget revenues and trade risks intensifies. Brussels is signalling that any move against ...
UK productivity revisions narrow post-crisis gap with peers
Britain’s productivity performance after the 2008 financial crisis appears stronger than previously measured, reducing the extent to which the country stands out from comparable economies. New ...
UK productivity reassessment narrows post-crisis gap with peers
Revised official data shows Britain’s productivity performance after the 2008 financial crisis is stronger than earlier estimates suggested. The update lifts measured output per hour worked ...
