The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Abstract
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organization in which the 30 member countries discuss, develop and analyze economic and social policy and shares expertise and exchanges with more than 70 developing and emerging economies. While all of the member countries are considered to be economically advanced and collectively produce three-fourths of the world's goods and services, membership is limited only by a country's commitment to a market economy and a pluralistic democracy. In May 2007, the OECD agreed to invite Chile, Estonia, Israel, Russia, and Slovenia to open discussions for membership and offered enhanced engagement with a view to possible membership to Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. The member countries rely on the OECD Secretariat in Paris to collect data, monitor trends, analyze and forecast economic developments, research social changes and patterns in trade, environment, agriculture, society, innovation, corporate and public governance, taxation, sustainable development, and other areas to inform their discussions and to assist them in pursuing their efforts to develop common policies and practices. The U.S. has sparred periodically with other OECD member countries over various issues, including U.S. antidumping laws. Christopher F. Egan was appointed by President Bush to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the OECD and confirmed by the Senate on October 26, 2007. Key issues for Congress include OECD work on coordinating national approaches to curtailing bribery and the illicit use of tax havens. Congress appropriated about $117 million to the OECD in FY2008. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 30, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA494191
Entities
People
- James K. Jackson
Organizations
- Library of Congress