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Together, we create
better policies for better lives

Who we are

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. Our goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. We draw on 60 years of experience and insights to better prepare the world of tomorrow.

Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

The OECD is a force for good in the world. All of us have a collective responsibility to use it to its full potential. Our core purpose, under our Convention, is to preserve individual liberty and to increase the economic and social well-being of our people. Our essential mission of the past – to promote stronger, cleaner, fairer economic growth and to raise employment and living standards – remains the critically important mission for the future. Mathias Cormann OECD Secretary-General
The OECD is a good forum to exchange information. It has stood the test of time and has provided evidence-based analysis, as a platform for peer learning for nearly 60 years. It is quite clear to me that if the OECD did not exist today, we would have to invent it. Sanna Marin Prime Minister, Finland
To address today’s challenges, countries must enhance the coordination of their actions. The OECD must continue to play a leading role in multilateralism. Non-binding standards show the way encouraging rather than imposing and they will key in the world of tomorrow. Faced with an international pandemic that has revealed our interdependencies, and led to economic and social consequences, we have seen that all responses must be coordinated and cooperative. Emmanuel Macron President of France
The OECD has significantly contributed to strengthening the multilateral free trade system and to sustainable economic growth through evidence-based analysis and quality standard setting. At this critical juncture, the role of OECD to gather our wisdom from around the world and to coordinate policies has never been more important. Yoshihide Suga Former Prime Minister, Japan
The OECD is fundamental in helping to understand our economic reality. Since the Marshall Plan, the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) has been a close interlocutor of the OECD in making sure that the workers’ voice is represented. More than ever, we need the OECD to help us shape effective policies, from reducing inequality and creating quality jobs, to tackling climate change and digitalisation in a just and sustainable manner. Marc Leemans Acting President, TUAC
Over the years, we have provided business perspectives and thought leadership to the OECD through the active participation of our leading business and employer organizations—and the corporate representatives they appoint to our work. There is no better forum than the OECD to powerfully demonstrate business is a dynamic solutions partner for international collaboration. Charles R. Johnston Chair, Business at OECD (BIAC)
Our global reach

The OECD is at the heart of international co-operation. Our Member countries work with other countries, organisations and stakeholders worldwide to address the pressing policy challenges of our time.

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Member countries View full list
OECD accession candidates View full list
Key Partners View full list
Regional initiatives View full list
Education
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
Testing 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics and science.
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Tax avoidance
Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)
Collaborating to tackle tax avoidance strategies by businesses.
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Responsible Business Conduct
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Encouraging companies globally to incorporate social, human rights and environmental considerations into the way they do business.
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Inclusive Growth
Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth
Mayors addressing inequality in cities.
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What we do: shape #BetterLives

This is a glimpse of how we help countries forge a path towards better lives while saving billions of dollars for taxpayers and boosting prospects for stronger, fairer and cleaner economies and societies.

IMPROVING
#EDUCATION SYSTEMS
600 000 students
IMPROVING
#EDUCATION SYSTEMS
600 000 students

The number of students evaluated in 2018 across 80 countries and economies to help compare the performance of education systems through the Programme for International Student Assessment.


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promoting local and regional
#development
1 000+ locations
promoting local and regional
#development
1 000+ locations

The number of regions and cities in the OECD and partner countries that will be able to measure progress on SDGs using the OECD localised indicator framework.


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Accelerating
#development
USD 480 million
Accelerating
#development
USD 480 million

The amount of additional tax revenues collected to date by administrations participating in the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) initiative.


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Combating international
#tax avoidance
135+
countries
Combating international
#tax avoidance
135+
countries

The number of countries taking part in the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) initiative to put an end to tax avoidance by multinational corporations.


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Promoting
#health and safety
$309 million
Promoting
#health and safety
$309 million

The annual savings to society thanks to OECD test methods, data quality standards and sharing of chemical safety testing and assessments. 


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Protecting consumer
#health and safety
24 000+ recalls
Protecting consumer
#health and safety
24 000+ recalls

The number of product recalls featured on the OECD GlobalRecalls portal to strengthen international co-operation and protect consumers


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guiding
#economic reforms
Up to 81%
guiding
#economic reforms
Up to 81%

The price drop for mobile broadband in Mexico after a series of reforms were undertaken, starting in 2013, to make the telecommunications industry more competitive.


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promoting
#responsible business conduct
48
countries
promoting
#responsible business conduct
48
countries

The number of countries that adhere to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.


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Fighting transnational
#corruption
800 sanctions
Fighting transnational
#corruption
800 sanctions

The number of sanctions since the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention came into force, making it a criminal offence to bribe officials in cross-border business deals.


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Would you like
to join us?

If you want to help drive change, apply to work at the OECD.

Inform & Advise

We provide knowledge and advice to inform better policies. As one of the world’s largest and most trusted sources of comparative socio-economic data and analysis, we help steer decision-making.

Inform & Advise
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Engage & Influence

We bring policy makers and policy shapers together to exchange ideas, share experiences, and forge progress across a range of policy areas. Peers from across the world meet to learn from and be inspired by one another.

Engage & Influence
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Set standards and provide policy support

We encourage countries and other partners develop international standards, so that everyone plays by the same rules and co-operates to reach shared objectives.

Set standards and provide policy support
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How can we work together ?

We collaborate daily with representatives from governments, parliaments, international organisations, business and labour, civil society, as well as citizens from across the globe.

The OECD needs your views. Whether by attending an event, using our analysis or joining a public consultation, there are many ways for you to engage with us.

Make a difference with us

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OECD: The vision for the next decade
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2022 Strategic Orientations
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