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This book summarises the environmental implications of globalisation (both positive and negative) in terms of governance (the changing role of the nation-state and other institutions), competitiveness, foreign investments (pollution havens/industrial migration), sectoral economic activities (energy, transport, agriculture), technological change, and corporate environmental strategies.

The launch of the euro reinforces the foundations for unprecedented economic integration encompassing 11 countries, 16 per cent of world GDP and 290 million people. For the first time, the OECD has studied the euro-area as a fully-fledged economic entity and has analysed the intensive preparations that led to the single currency, as well as the economic issues raised by its introduction. Despite the macroeconomic convergence already achieved and the institutional framework that has been established, the fact is that many uncertainties remain. An approach to co-ordinating monetary and budgetary policies that is up to the issues at stake has still to be fully defined. And the euro area's ability to absorb economic shocks must be assessed and strengthened. In this respect it is vital for labour markets to become more flexible and adaptable if they are to compensate for the loss of national monetary autonomy which EMU implies and if adjustment is not to be at the expense of jobs. A special chapter discusses the obstacles to geographic labour mobility and the rigidity of wage setting mechanisms. These are some of the challenges that must be faced in the years to come, and this study discusses them in the light of the most penetrating and informative analysis today’s economists can provide. It does not prescribe set remedies, but drawing on analyses and figures never published before, attempts to identify the best policies for ensuring the success of the monetary union. This is a complex study that takes a hard look at the issues and will be of great interest to anyone wishing to understand the economic mechanisms at work.

How long will conventional fossil fuels remain the predominant source of energy? Does nuclear power have a future? What new energy technologies are emerging on the horizon? What are the implications of the growing role played by developing countries as producers and users of energy? What can be done to avoid international energy crises in the future? How will the information society affect the production and use of energy? And what will be the long-term implications of international environmental agreements for a sustainable energy future? Endeavours to set world energy on a sustainable footing are entering a critical phase. By 2050 the energy landscape could be completely transformed. A highly diversified mix of conventional and new fuels will be in use; unprecedented levels of energy efficiency in transport systems, housing and other infrastructures will likely have been attained; and people could at last be reaping the rewards of environmentally responsible lifestyles. But such a shift towards sustainable use of energy will take decades to achieve. This book reviews the options likely to shape the energy picture over the next half-century, and assesses some of the key issues -- economic, social, technological, environmental -- that decision-makers in government and corporations will need to address in the very near future.

Europe's single currency was launched a bit more than a year ago for eleven of the fifteen countries of the Union. This study assesses economic developments and policies during the inaugural year of the new regime. It analyses the economic performance and prospects of the euro area as a whole, and highlights to what extent aggregate trends are shaped by convergence or divergence at national or regional levels. Macroeconomic policies are discussed in depth. The common monetary policy carried out by the Eurosystem and the underlying framework are scrutinised, as is the co-ordination of national fiscal policies against the background of the Stability and Growth Pact. A special chapter is devoted to the links between structural features and policies on the one hand and macroeconomic performance on the other. It argues that broad-based and properly designed structural reforms would boost Europe's economic potential significantly and ease macroeconomic policy trade-offs. A number of highly topical issues are addressed, such as: - How fast is growth picking up and unemployment declining in the euro area? - Why did the euro weaken in 1999 and does it matter? - How effectively was monetary policy conducted? - What degree of fiscal prudence is needed over the next few years? - Which rigidities continue to stunt growth in Europe? This is the second OECD study on EMU, following the one published in early 1999 under the title EMU: Facts, Challenges and Policies.

This book presents the proceedings of the 25th CIRET Conference, entitled "Business Surveys and Empirical Analysis of Economic and Social Survey Data" was hosted by OECD and INSEE in Paris, France in 2000.

The 21st Century has so far witnessed a host of large-scale disasters in various parts of the world including: windstorms, flooding, new diseases infesting both humans and animals, terrorist attacks and major disruptions to critical infrastructures. It is not just the nature of major risks that seems to be changing, but also the context in which risks are evolving as well as society’s capacity to manage them.  This book explores the implications of these developments for economy and society in the 21st century, focussing in particular on the potentially significant increase in the vulnerability of major systems.  It concentrates on five large risk clusters: natural disasters, technological accidents, infectious diseases, food safety and terrorism, identifies the challenges facing OECD countries and sets out recommendations for governments and the private sector as to how the management of emerging systemic risks might be improved.

Detailed, complete, timely and reliable statistics are essential to monitor the energy situation at a country level as well as at an international level. Energy statistics on supply, trade, stocks, transformation and demand are indeed the basis for any sound energy policy decision. This manual is designed to provide a basic understanding of energy statistics to the layman.

This Enterprise Policy Performance Assessment report is presented as an independent and constructive contribution to the debate on enterprise policy in Albania, bringing forward the views of the small business sector and providing a set of priority actions and policy recommendations to the government and the small business community.

The EPPA 2004 indicates that, since the completion of the previous EPPA report in March 2003, Serbia has made progress in implementing better policies for the SME sector. The overall picture is that of a gradual, but limited and uneven progress over the broad spectrum of the seven policy dimensions covered by the EPPA report...

The OECD/EBRD Enterprise Policy Performance Assessment for Bulgaria presents an overall assessment of conditions for SMEs.  It assesses the conditions regarding the institutional framework, the rule of law, tax policy, financial services availability, advistory services availability, business incubators, and access to education and technology.

The OECD/EBRD Enterprise Policy Performance Assessment for Bosnia and Herzegovina presents an overall assessment of the business environment for SMEs.  It assesses the conditions regarding the institutional framework, the rule of law, tax policy, financial services availability, advisory services availability, business incubators, and access to education and technology.

The OECD/EBRD Enterprise Policy Performance Assessment for Croatia presents an overall assessment of conditions for SMEs.  It assesses the conditions regarding the institutional framework, the rule of law, tax policy, financial services availability, advistory services availability, business incubators, and access to education and technology.