2 minute readFor many years Governments and international organisations have publicly espoused the advantages of evidence-informed decision making. But in recent years we have witnessed a subtle but noteworthy shift in rhetoric away from evidence-informed in favour of data-driven decision making. At first glance this evolution seems welcome – decisions are now driven by data, implying those decisions must be objective and scientific. But is this the case?
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5 minute readThis article explores how and why different debt-to-GDP ratios for the same country and period may be correct. While there is only one figure used for GDP, there are usually several official measures of debt in OECD countries. The differences reflect users’ demand for different indicators. There may also be differences in the ‘valuation’ and ‘consolidation’ bases of the debt measures. Individuals and institutions using or quoting debt-to-GDP ratios should be aware of the differences behind the indicators.
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4 minute readIt’s easy to imagine tax administrations as big administrative beasts, slow to adapt to the challenges of an increasingly digital world, like cumbersome ocean liners requiring space and time to adjust their heading.
But the reality for a modern tax administration is very different. We saw this front and centre during the COVID-19 pandemic, with tax administrations delivering rapid and complex citizen support policies on an unprecedented scale. Less visible is the pace of digitalisation in tax administrations, which has only accelerated following the pandemic. We are seeing fundamental changes, integrating digital more and more into their core operating models and implementing world-leading practices. The results are lasting benefits for tax administrations and, ultimately, taxpayers.
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5 minute readThis analysis by John Mitchell highlights shifting government spending patterns over the past 20 years, with rising health and social protection spending, accompanied by decreases for education, defence and public debt transactions. But recent increases in long-term interest rates combined with the higher overall level of government debt will require governments to devote more of their annual budgets to debt service payments in coming years.
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5 minute readIn many OECD countries, Welfare States have expanded from a rudimentary base 60 years ago to the more comprehensive systems we see today. Public social expenditure amounted to less than 10% of GDP in 1960, but has more than doubled…
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7 minute readThe OECD Survey on Trust in Public Institutions (Trust Survey) is a nationally representative survey conducted across 22 OECD countries devoted to measuring citizens’ trust in public institutions and its determinants.
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2 minute readMeasuring different aspects of trust can help understand whether people believe that they are being listened to or that institutions are serving their needs. The Trustlab survey carried out in the UK in June 2018 covers a large number of groups and institutions and allows for a detailed analysis of possible causes of distrust.
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