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...

District heating has the potential to make a substantial contribution to a sustainable energy future in Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. It is a critical energy source for countries in transition, covering 60 percent of heating and hot water needs

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...

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...

Finding a suitable work/family balance is a challenge that all parents face. Many parents and children in New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland are happy with their existing arrangements. However, many others feel seriously constrained in one way or another, and their personal well-being suffers...

The development of the tradeable sector is a permanent concern for policy makers in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The weak performance of the tradeable sector has been cited as one of the causes of mixed growth performance in South America during the 1990s as crises in the region have been...

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...

It is vital that public transport ensure accessibility for all individuals. Much progress has been made toward improving accessibility to public transport, however implementation of policies to improve accessibility has proven difficult and slow in many urban areas

Despite many examples of good practice, large weaknesses exist in many countries' national career guidance services, according to extensive research conducted by the OECD, and by the Centre for the Development of Vocational Training and the European Training Foundation on behalf of the European...

The publication presents an overview of foreign labour recruitment practices in OECD member countries. It discusses challenges to the negotiation of labour recruitment agreements and the prospects for potential co-operation on migration for employment and development issues in sending countries