All societies depend on biodiversity and biological resources, and policy makers are increasingly aware that development pressures are today generating unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss. The fact that biodiversity issues often receive low priority in policy decisions is at least in part...

This paper examines how the loss of biodiversity – and of the ecosystem services it provides – affects the various dimensions of fragility, amplifying existing risks and diminishing coping capacity in fragile contexts. It calls on all stakeholders in development co-operation to align (i)...

Provides an in-depth empirical analysis of an industrial survey undertaken in seven OECD countries (Japan, France, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Canada and the United States), spanning 4000 facilities in all manufacturing sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises. The authors use their...

To address many of the environmental challenges that face us today, including climate change, countries are striving to deploy efficient and effective tools for environmental management at the national level. Tradable/transferable permits are one such tool. What are the key design parameters for...

Economic valuation is widely used in OECD countries as a way of assessing the (usually monetary) value of goods that have no markets. In the rural context, valuation methods are used to argue for or against projects and policy choices in areas as diverse as agricultural support policies, local...

The term multifunctionality is increasingly used, but is prone to different interpretations concerning its definition, its utility and its implications for policy at domestic and international level. The OECD undertook this analysis to clarify the concept of multifunctionality and to try to...

This report attempts to guide policy-makers to the best possible decisions taking account of the multifunctional character of agriculture. Policy-makers and analysts are supplied with a series of detailed questions which will help determine whether government intervention is required and, if so,...