Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

• Established in 1961
• Headquartered in Paris
• 38 member countries
• Annual budget of EUR 363 million
• Secretariat staff 3'200
• 250 publications per year

Official OECD website

OECD member countries

The mission of the OECD is to help its member countries to:

• Support sustainable economic growth
• Boost employment
• Raise living standards
• Maintain financial stability
• Assist other countries' economic development
• Contribute to growth in world trade

OECD activity fields

The governments of member countries meet regularly in committees to :

• Compare experiences ("peer reviews")
• Seek solutions to common problems
• Identify good practices
• Develop international standards
• Coordinate their national and international policies

The OECD and its secretariat collect data, analyse and forecast economic and social trends and developments.

• International platform for advocating Switzerland's interests
• Opportunity to be involved in defining international standards
• Peer learning
• Arguments for structural reforms which are necessary but politically difficult
• Areas of particular interest: investment, competition, tax, development, health and innovation

• Status quo: risks losing influence and economic clout to new actors
• Aim: globalisation hub
• One candidate country for accession: Costa Rica. Negotiations with Russia are postponed.
• Enhanced engagement with the "global players" of tomorrow: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, South Africa