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Economic Growth

Can we predict recessions using only unemployment data? Applying the Sahm rule to OECD countries

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026

5 minute readThe accurate and early identification of economic turning points is a longstanding challenge. While in some countries, recession periods are formally determined by business cycle committees – as is the case in the United States – these processes are complex and often take considerable time to conclude. Yet policymakers, economists and financial market participants require more timely signals of shifting economic conditions to support effective and well-informed decision-making.

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MNE-thing is possible: New OECD-UNSD data release strengthens open evidence on multinational enterprises

March 18, 2026

5 minute readMultinational enterprises (MNEs) play an increasingly central role in the global economy. They influence trade patterns, investment flows, and production across countries, yet their complex organisational structures can be difficult to map out using traditional statistical sources. The Multinational Enterprise Information Platform (MEIP) was developed to help address this challenge by offering a clearer view of large MNEs and the cross-border networks through which they operate.

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The Re-Export Puzzle: How the OECD addresses the largest source of distortion in merchandise trade statistics

January 22, 2026March 16, 2026

7 minute readInternational trade statistics offer a picture of trade flows between countries and play a critical role in shaping economic policy, guiding trade negotiations, and supporting evidence-based research and decision-making. These statistics are reported from two different perspectives: that of the exporter and that of the importer. Users expect the two numbers to match but this is not always the case. Addressing them is essential for achieving a coherent and accurate view of international trade.

Government, New Data

Trust in the United Kingdom

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.

January 16, 2019November 18, 2022 by oecdstatistics

Labour Market, Productivity

Are international productivity gaps as large as we thought?

5 minute readLabour productivity is a key indicator of economic wellbeing, and raising it – producing more goods and services from the same or less work (labour input) – is one of the main drivers of sustainable economic growth. Historically, comparisons of productivity across countries have shown substantial gaps.

December 17, 2018April 19, 2023 by oecdstatistics

Globalisation, Inequality, Prices

Purchasing Power Parities – not only about Big Macs

5 minute readThe Big Mac index from The Economist magazine is a well-known example of an international price comparison of a product with similar characteristics across countries. This price comparison shows for instance that the average price of a Big Mac is 5 dollars in the United States and 4 euros in France.

July 10, 2017April 27, 2023 by oecdstatistics

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