1887

OECD Economics Department Working Papers

Working papers from the Economics Department of the OECD that cover the full range of the Department’s work including the economic situation, policy analysis and projections; fiscal policy, public expenditure and taxation; and structural issues including ageing, growth and productivity, migration, environment, human capital, housing, trade and investment, labour markets, regulatory reform, competition, health, and other issues.

The views expressed in these papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the OECD or of the governments of its member countries.

English, French

Enhancing insolvency frameworks to support economic renewal

This paper updates of the OECD Insolvency framework indicator, which summarises the main features of insolvency systems, with respect to their ability to prevent the failure of viable firms, allow a timely exit of non-viable companies, facilitate corporate restructuring and promote entrepreneurship by offering a second chance to honest failed entrepreneurs. The indicator covers 45 countries, including all OECD and European Union members. Since the indicator’s previous vintage (2016), most countries have enhanced their insolvency frameworks, notably early warning systems and pre-insolvency procedures. There is still room for improvement, particularly on simplified frameworks for small businesses, which are still often lacking. However, many countries report future insolvency reform plans. The paper also highlights the importance of efficient insolvency procedures as pressure on businesses arises from the gradual withdrawal of COVID-related policy support, the rise in energy costs and interest rates, along with the restructuring needs induced by the green and digital transitions.

English

Keywords: personal and corporate insolvency, firm exit, capital misallocation, productivity, zombie firms
JEL: O47: Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth / Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity / Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence; K35: Law and Economics / Other Substantive Areas of Law / Personal Bankruptcy Law; O43: Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth / Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity / Institutions and Growth; O40: Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth / Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity / Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity: General; D24: Microeconomics / Production and Organizations / Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error