Crisis drives up social spending–; –as tax revenues rise; Soundbites; Economy; Country roundup; Rebalancing act; Pensions struggle; Plus ça change…

Accession talks go ahead; Anti-corruption fight rewarded –; – as Brazil and Turkey warned; Latin American Reforms; Jobless benefits; Economy; Nano-safety; Italian red tape; Steely growth; New conference centre opens; World Bank ties; Soundbites; Plus ça change…

Tax burdens back up; Offshore tax warning; Economy; Governance initiative launched; Anti-Bribery Convention at 10–; –Concern expressed about Chile and Argentina; Soundbites; Brazil in export credits pact; Innovation is the Kiwi; Farming subsidies ease; New Reflections; Gurría award; Faster EU progress urged; Plus ça change…

Women off line; Broader faster; Economy; Cropping problems; Anti-corruption crusades; Tax accord; Home straight

Rebalancing continues; GDP edges up–; –as inflation drops–; –and unemployment steadies–; –though trade slows; Aid: More effort needed; Tax break; Spain in the chair; Plus ça change…

Development aid stalls; Growth eases; Inflation drops–; –and unemployment falls; Chinese Intelligence; Migration benefits; Slippery slopes; Plus ça change…

Turkey should improve corporate governance; Growth squeezes up tax burdens; Myanmar off money laundering list; Growth eases; Weakening activity ahead?; Inflation falls slightly; G7 trade slows

Latest edition: Higher education is a cornerstone of knowledge societies and it is expanding. How to deliver the necessary funding needed to improve quality and governance, and be able to compete internationally were key questions at the 2006 OECD education ministerial meeting, chaired by the government of Greece in Athens in June.

Unhealthy costs; Growth to moderate?; Unemployment falls; Safer pensions; New risk tool; Fairer business; G7 trade slows; Plus ça change…

Secretary-General Donald J. Johnston (right) shares some thoughts with his successor, former Mexican finance minister, Angel Gurría, who takes over as head of the organisation after the 2006 ministerial meeting. Mr Gurría will be the OECD’s fifth secretary-general since the OECD was set up in 1961. In the background is a portrait of Robert Marjolin, the first secretary-general of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, the precursor of the OECD, founded in 1948.

Inflation rising; Spanish bribery; Unemployment stable; Tax wedges shrink; Aid tops $100 billion; New pension guidelines; Spam alert; Plus ça change…

Recovery on track; Energy fuels inflation; Leading indicators point up–; –but joblessness down; Hungary awards Mr Johnston; Smart aid; Value added clarity; Plus ça change…

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría has congratulated Barack Obama on his re-election as US president. Mr Gurría said the OECD was proud to have worked with President Obama and his team over the past four years, both on the home front and in international fora such as the G8 and G20 (our photo).

Are you able to make sense of the barrage of opinion poll data that is currently being published in the lead up to the US presidential election on 6 November? Bruce Stokes, Director of Pew Global Economic Attitudes at the Pew Research Center, sheds light on the poll trends and assesses to what extent issues such as the economy will be deciding factors when voters approach the ballot box.

Outlook brightens; Progressive measures; Soundbites; Warning for EU; Protectionism warning; G20; Tax notes; Economy; Plus ça change

Some 83 million people suffer from diabetes in the OECD area. On current trends, that will rise to almost 100 million by 2030. Speaking at the European Diabetes Leadership Forum in Copenhagen, OECD Deputy Secretary-General Yves Leterme said, “preventing and treating diabetes and its complications costs about €90 billion annually in Europe alone.

Are you a graduate student looking for a worthwhile internship in an international and dynamic environment? Starting September 2012, the OECD has exciting opportunities in its Public Affairs and Communication Directorate for qualified, motivated students. 

Stop tax evasion; Greener tourism; Soundbites; New movement; Euro options; Better life yardstick; Economy; Country roundup; Outlook still fragile; Learning inequality; Plus ça change...

Record fall in GDP; Crisis response; Social urgency; Public trust?; Economy; Korea’s economy; Turkey’s environment; Fraud; Ireland’s anti-corruption laws; Israel joins Anti-Bribery convention; India backs export credit pledge; Tax evasion; IT difficulties; IT difficulties; Soundbites; Plus ça change…

A weekly catch from behind the headlines on oecd.org, No 1

Leaders et the OECD; Jobs; Spanish bull; Web sense; Fish

Mental illness alert; Rural promise; Economy; Country roundup; Global steel grows; Green growth platform; Soundbites; Plus ça change...

G20 agrees on tax; Making more aid better; Economy; "How's Life" launched; Soundbites; Rethink fossil fuel subsidies; Country roundup; Plus ça change...

Long-term care spending to double; Crisis stretches health spending; Start-ups squeeze; Multinational guidelines updated; Soundbites; Russia moves towards Anti-Bribery Convention; Economy; Internet economy advances; New debt centre for South Africa; OECD and India enhance tax co-operation; Plus ça change...

Child poverty warning; Economy; Soundbites; Slower development aid?; Japan rebuilds; Tax burden on the rise; Estonia joins the OECD; Shinier steel outlook; Cities under-served by carbon markets; Brazil and India sign OECD chemical accord; Corruption: governments warned; Plus ça change...

Slower activity ahead?; Economy; Soundbites; Roundup; Corruption work praised; iLibrary launched; Israel joins the OECD; Secretary-General reappointed; Plus ça change...

Health spending rises; Round up; Soundbites; Benvenuto!; Economy; Food speculation question; Chinese flexibility welcomed; Slovenia joins the OECD; Plus ça change...

Tax burdens fall; OECD enlargement; Youth warning; Development aid rises, but......; Soundbites; Economy; UK adopts bribery bill; Poland mourns; Plus ça change...

Now for sustaining growth–; –as China sets the pace; Greening Greece; Soundbites; Economy; Aid shortfall; Chile's new president; Tax watch; Plus ça change...

In the current economic climate, in which early signs of recovery give grounds for optimism, the countries of the MENA region are keenly aware of the common challenges that must be met through stronger principles of good governance and economic freedom, consolidation of the rule of law and democracy, the fair distribution of wealth and compliance, and respect for the environment.

The countries of the Middle East and North Africa stand at a crucial stage in their development. Though several of them had until recently witnessed high growth-Morocco's economy expanded by over 5% in 2008, Egypt's and UAE's by over 7%-the global crisis has finally dealt a blow.

Showing progress; Economy; Hard talk

Record fall in GDP; Economy; Gender learning; Other news; Soundbites; Plus ça change...

Crisis bites deeper  ; Economy; Jobs opportunity ; Green teens ?; Tax information-exchange agreements; Freedom of Investment initiative; Fighting Bid Rigging in Public Procurement ; Development aid; Soundbites; Plus ça change...

UK warned on corruption; Gender gap persists; Tax progress mixed; Economy; News shorts (healthcare, pollution, education, migration); Soundbites; Plus ça change…

We welcome and support the adoption of the systemic rescue plan announced by the US government on 19-20 September , which will contribute to re-establish the normal operation of financial markets and preserve employment and economic activity.

Internet 2011 alert; More oil investment; Financial reform needed; Economy; Germany signs tax convention; Pensions strength; Soundbites; Plus ça change…

Outlook deteriorates; Transport tackles CO2; Development setback; News shorts; Adult skills; Wikigender; Four new members; Pensions; Tax drag; Liechtenstein affair; Economy; Soundbites; Eastern promise; Brazil visit; Plus ça change…

Guido Mantega, Brazil’s finance minister, on a recent visit to the OECD headquarters.

A statue of Korea's legendary General Lee Soon Shin stands guard outside the Ministry of Information and Communications in central Seoul. A poster announcing a major international joint Korean/OECD ministerial conference on the Future of the Internet Economy to be held on 17-18 June hangs at the front of the building.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shakes hands with OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría at the launch of a new multilateral initiative called the Partnership for Democratic Governance (PDG).The new initiative is designed to assist those developing countries that need help to improve governance, strengthen capacity and accountability, and deliver the services that are essential supports of effective government.

 Economic prospects in the US, Europe and Japan have become less buoyant and more uncertain, OECD chief economist Jean-Philippe Cotis said today, Wednesday 5 September. Economic prospects were losing buoyancy, while the risks are becoming more ominous, he said. 

South Africa joins Anti-Bribery Convention; Economy; Rebalancing confirmed; Safer pensions; Investment trends; Greener export credits; Tax talks; High in fibre; China's environment; Lifting French spirits; European aid scrutinised; Biofuels lift farm prices-; -and sow uncertainty; Nuclear energy rises; Plus ça change