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...

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...

Emissions of pollutants from motor vehicles have been the focus of longstanding concerns for both governments and the public at large because of their impact on air quality and human health. More recently, emissions of greenhouse gases have been of growing concern because of their impacts on...

The main objective of national energy policies in OECD countries is to ensure the availability of secure and economic supplies with minimal environmental impact. The means of achieving security and competitiveness in the supply of electricity differ between countries

Upper secondary education is the final stage of formal education for the majority of students in OECD countries, and as such it is a crucial staging point towards further learning and employment. But how successful are upper secondary schools in preparing young adults for life?The International...

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...

China's rural economy has made enormous progress over the last twenty-five years. But rural finance and institutional reforms are still lagging behind, thus creating the risk of slowing down further rural development.  In October 2003, the OECD, together with the Chinese Government, invited...

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...

In the absence of strong government policies, the IEA projects that the worldwide use of oil in transport will nearly double between 2000 and 2030, leading to a similar increase in greenhouse gas emissions.  Biofuels, such as ethanol, biodiesel, and other liquid and gaseous fuels, could offer an...