4 minute readServices play an increasingly important role in international trade. In 2023, services trade accounted for approximately one quarter of global trade, up from one fifth a decade earlier. Explore how the refreshed OECD-WTO Balanced Trade in Services (BaTIS) dataset unveils nuanced patterns in global services trade. This new release offers richer details and improved consistency, enabling policymakers and analysts to pinpoint shifts across diverse sectors—from finance to digital services. By capturing bilateral flows at a finer level, BaTIS supports better monitoring of emerging trends, highlights competitive strengths, and informs strategic decisions in international trade.
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3 minute readThe digital revolution has transformed daily life, offering benefits like improved healthcare and remote work while introducing challenges such as excessive screen time, cyberbullying, and data privacy concerns. The OECD and Cisco have launched the Digital Well-being Hub to explore how technology affects well-being, bridging gaps in understanding beyond traditional statistics. With 40% of internet users lacking basic digital skills in OECD countries, the Hub aims to gather personal stories and data to inform policies that foster safer, more inclusive digital environments. Participate in the poll to share your experience and help shape a healthier digital future.
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4 minute readMultinational Enterprises (MNEs) are key actors in the global economy. In 2023, the top 500 MNEs generated over USD 21 trillion in revenues, greater than the combined GDP of the European Union. To overcome this, the OECD and United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) developed the Multinational Enterprise Information Platform (MEIP). The Platform is updated annually, with the third release, covering the period to 31st December 2023, now available.
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7 minute readRecent months brought positive news about declining inflation, with rates finally coming within reach of central banks’ targets and pre-pandemic inflation. This is especially welcome after the surge in inflation rates following the Covid pandemic, supply chain disruptions and start of war in Ukraine, in 2021-22, when in many OECD countries inflation reached figures not seen since the 1980s. However, declining inflation rates do not mean declining prices, only a slowdown in their increase. Average prices of consumer goods and services are now (as of September 2024) about a third higher for an average OECD country than they were in December 2019.
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5 minute readMore timely statistics and data allow us to respond swiftly to new developments. More granular data means that we can be more targeted in our policy advice and better account for disparities across gender, regions, industries, firm size or demographics. But statistics and data must be trustworthy and of good quality. In short, they must be fit for purpose.
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5 minute readTo accelerate the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy needs to become more ambitious. The shift to net zero can be stimulated through many policy instruments including regulations, e.g. banning the use of certain polluting assets or activities, tax incentives and subsidies – and carbon pricing.
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6 minute readData on availability and use of paid leave entitlements is crucial for understanding the effectiveness of paid parental leave policies. However, the design of paid leave policy varies markedly across countries.
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5 minute readThe natural environment is essential for people and their livelihoods to thrive. Throughout history, climate-related hazards and damaging natural disasters have impacted and shaped societies around the world. However, climate change poses a growing threat to people’s livelihoods
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