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The International Energy Agency's detailed quarterly report on developments in energy prices and taxes in OECD and selected non-OECD Countries. Prices are provided at all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity and prices are provided in both national currencies and in US dollars. Coverage is provided as far back as 1980 on an annual basis. This issue's feature article covers steam and coking coal prices.
Taxi transport is a vital part of the modern transport system providing door-to-door services around the clock. In line with trends in other forms of transport, taxis too need to improve their accessibility for older and disabled people.
This report is a result of dialogue between governments and the taxi profession and includes data from 14 countries on national taxi services, looking at the structure of the taxi trade, the use of taxis by disabled and older people and cost implications of accessible taxis.
This report sets out a range of actions to be taken by governments and the taxi profession so that this mode of transport can, in a profitable way, provide accessible affordable transport for all.
This volume contains data on energy supply and consumption in original units for coal, oil, gas, electricity, heat, combustible renewables and waste. Historical tables summarise data on production, trade and final consumption of hard coal, brown coal, oil, natural gas and electricity. The book includes definitions of products and flows and explanatory notes on the individual country data.
The International Energy Agency's 2001 review of Spains energy policies and programmes. This edition finds that due to Spain’s geographical setting and limited domestic energy resources, security of supply is a core objective of Spanish energy policy. Energy supply grew by some 3.5% per year from 1996 to 1999 and electricity consumption by 6% per year. Spain is increasingly dependent on imported energy. As Spanish energy markets are being liberalised, it is essential for the government to ensure that it sends signals to the markets which evoke sustainable investment in energy.
Progress has been made in electricity and gas market liberalisation during the last few years and full liberalisation of both markets is scheduled for the beginning of 2003. But many details are yet to be defined. The electricity market is still dominated by two large companies and the gas market by one. The report recommends measures to achieve effective competition. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains a major challenge for the Spanish government. Carbon dioxide emissions continued to increase along with energy demand. Spanish GHG emissions in 1998 were already 21% above the 1990 level, while Spain is committed to reduce them to 15% above 1990.
In economic appraisals of road safety measures, determining which method to use for the valuation of those measures is a problem. There are two methods open to us. Remarkably, one accurately measures a non-relevant concept (the human capital method), while the other measures the correct parameter, but not very accurately (the willingness-to-pay method). The Round Table examined the many complementary aspects of the two and found that what was needed, above all, were practical guides for each method. The Round Table noted that values for human life are highly comparable from one mode of transport to another, concluding that this should encourage governments to take charge of safety with the same forcefulness whatever the mode of transport. It also found that spending on road safety was already adequate, but that the money was not 'wisely' spent. Arguably the proposals put forward by this Round Table were unconventional. For instance, it held that difficulties in producing major changes in driver behaviour signalled that more attention should be paid to educational measures and infrastructure investment. This publication reviews the road safety policies and their economic evaluation. At a time when the authorities in many countries are beginning to set still more ambitious targets for those policies, the Round Table highlights the need for measures that are effective over the long term and economically efficient.
The International Energy Agency's 2001 review of Belgium's energy policies and programmes. It finds that due Belgium’s geographical setting, cross-border trade has a significant influence on the country’s energy policy. Belgium has actively increased its gas transmission capacity, and has become key player in the overall European gas markets. There is still room for improvement, however, in the electricity transmission capacity.
Belgium has started to liberalise its electricity and gas market. But the traditional utilities Electrabel and Distrigas retain much influence. Further efforts are required to make a competitive market. Belgium has made the political decision to phase out nuclear power, closing down the existing units when they reach forty years of age and building no new units. The report recommends Belgium to look for realistic and economic alternatives for large-scale energy production. The recommendations made by the Ampere Commission on improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewables and co-generation provide only a partial solution for future energy needs.
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions will be one of the major challenges for Belgian energy policy in this decade. In 1998, Belgium’s energy-related CO2 emissions were 15% above the 1990 level. The report identifies reasons for the growing emissions, analyses current policies and suggests additional measures to help in this challenging task. One of the most crucial elements is curbing the growth of energy consumption, which exceeded 20% in all sectors in the 1990s.
Federal-regional co-operation is essential for successful energy-policy development and implementation in Belgium. The report makes recommendations in several areas where co-operative action appears necessary.
This volume contains data on the supply and consumption of coal, oil, gas, electricity, heat, combustible renewables and waste in energy balances. The figures are expressed in million tonnes of oil equivalent. Historical tables summarise key energy and economic indicators as well as production, trade and final consumption data. This book includes definitions of products and flows. There are explanatory notes on the individual country data and conversion factors from original units to tonnes of oil equivalent. Key indicators have been provided since 1960. More detailed data in original units are published in Energy Statistics of OECD Countries 1998-1999, the sister volume of this publication.
It is now widely recognised that a greater use of market based instruments is a key element of effective and economically efficient environmental policies, and an important framework condition for sustainable development. Hence, over the last decade, economic instruments have been playing a growing role in environmental policies of OECD countries. In this context, a distinctive feature is the increasing role of environmentally related taxes. All countries have introduced environmental taxes to a varying extent, and an increasing number of countries are implementing comprehensive green-tax reforms, while others are contemplating doing so.
This report analyses current use of environmentally related taxes in OECD Member countries. Focus is given to their environmental effectiveness. The report identifies obstacles to a broader use of such taxes -- in particular the fear of loss of sectoral competitiveness -- and ways to overcome such problems.
The International Energy Agency's detailed quarterly report on developments in energy prices and taxes in OECD and selected non-OECD Countries. Prices are provided at all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity and prices are provided in both national currencies and in US dollars. Coverage is provided as far back as 1980 on an annual basis. This issue's feature article covers the economics of nuclear power.
The International Energy Agency's 2001 review of New Zealand's energy policies and programmes. It finds that New Zealand is very active in all areas of energy policy. This report focuses on electricity deregulation and on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But gas supply depletion and the 1998 Auckland power failure are reminders of the fundamental importance of energy security.
New Zealand is working towards ratifying the Kyoto Protocol by mid-2002, the only OECD country to make such a commitment outside the European Union. Agriculture is the main contributor to greenhouse emissions in New Zealand. Electricity generation contributes very little at present. The focus should be on agriculture and transport. International agreement on emissions trading and sinks, on which progress has been slow, is vital to New Zealand’s approach.
New Zealand is preparing a National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. Attention needs to be given to transport. Residential energy consumption must not be allowed to grow too fast, as the economy recovers. New Zealand has demonstrated that electricity market liberalisation can succeed in a small country, although government shareholdings remain high, and the government owns Transpower, the transmission and system operator. Small consumers have not always benefited from changes in the electricity market. The government’s Power Package aims to strengthen industry self-governance, to bring the benefits of market reform to the retail market, and to address weaknesses in industry regulation.
New Zealand’s approach to energy sector regulation is unique in the world. The report discusses the strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand’s regulatory system.
The International Energy Agency's 2001 review of Australia's energy policies and programmes. It finds that Australia is rich in low-cost energy resources, especially coal. The country exports large amounts of coal, liquefied natural gas and uranium to the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. This contributes to international availability and security of energy supply. Efforts are under way to increase LNG exports and to make Australian coal even more competitive.
For most of the past decade, Australia has been at the forefront of energy market liberalisation. Following liberalisation by individual states in the early 1990s, the competitive National Electricity Market was established in 1998. The NEM integrates markets across the eastern and south-eastern states. The benefits have been considerable: strong competition, significant price reductions and consumer choice. Gas market reform has been under way since 1997 and is beginning to yield the first benefits. More work is needed to complete the reform process. In the power market, this includes open access for all consumers and providing efficient price signals for interconnection.
The Australian government spends almost A$ 1 billion on climate change mitigation programmes. Many of these programmes are market-oriented, including a mandatory certificates trading system.
Are the new information and communication technologies transforming education and learning in OECD countries? There is certainly an upsurge in investigations and inquiries into e-learning by all kinds of parties and interest groups -- governmental, professional, commercial -- and from education communities.
The universal « mega-trends » associated with globalisation mean that partnership in providing e-learning material is needed to manage cost and complexity in the face of competition that may come from any part of the world. This raises important questions about the public interest and the public good especially in school education which find different responses in different OECD countries; yet increased public-private sector partnering appears a well-nigh universal phenomenon.
This publication explores closely the e-learning developments respectively in the school and in the higher education sector in terms of market prospects and partnership creation. The fastest developments are seen in post-secondary and corporate education. However, technology alone does not deliver education success. It only becomes valuable in education if learners and teachers can do something useful with it. There is now a definite shift of focus from technology to content and people in several OECD countries.
This 2001 edition of Education at a Glance - OECD Indicators provides a rich, comparable and up-to-date array of indicators. The indicators represent the consensus of professional thinking on how to measure the current state of education internationally. They provide information on the human and financial resources invested in education, on how education and learning systems operate and evolve, and on the returns to educational investments. The thematic organisation of the volume and the background information accompanying the tables and charts make this publication a valuable resource for anyone interested in analysing education systems across countries.
This year's edition of Education at a Glance includes new indicators on: how the levels and distributions of student achievement have evolved; the incentive structures governments offer to attract and retain qualified teachers; the availability and use of information and communication technologies in the teaching-learning process; public subsidies and transfers for education and their beneficiaries; and participation in skill improvement among the employed population.
Finally, for many indicators, a significantly larger number of OECD countries are now providing data. Through the World Education Indicators programme, a wide range of non-member countries have also contributed to this year’s edition of Education at a Glance, extending the coverage of some of the indicators to almost two-thirds of the world population.
The International Energy Agency's detailed quarterly report on developments in energy prices and taxes in OECD and selected non-OECD Countries. Prices are provided at all market levels: import prices, industry prices and consumer prices. The statistics cover main petroleum products, gas, coal, and electricity and prices are provided in both national currencies and in US dollars. Coverage is provided as far back as 1980 on an annual basis. This issue's feature article covers electricity network pricing.
It has been widely recognised among researchers that speciation data are essential for proper and reliable modelling of radionuclide behaviour, which is studied inter alia in the context of radioactive waste management. Participants at the OECD/NEA workshop on "Evaluation of Speciation Technology" reviewed the various techniques used to identify different species of actinide and fission product elements present in nuclear waste and nuclear reprocessing streams. The review takes into account the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of the various methods in relation to their field of application. Recommendations for future R&D are also provided. These proceedings will primarily be of interest to chemists specialised in separation techniques and radioactive waste management experts.
What are the problems faced by SMEs in OECD countries and developing and transition economies in today’s globalising world? What are the framework conditions that influence SMEs’ incentives and capacities to innovate? What is the optimal role of public policy in consolidating and developing clusters? Are SMEs failing to capture the full benefits of e-commerce and if so, why? Which are the best-practice instruments for fostering co-operation and partnership between SMEs in OECD and non-OECD countries?
The OECD Bologna Conference gathered Ministers, high-level policy makers and business representatives from more than 50 countries and 60 international organisations with a view to releasing the potential of SMEs and enhancing their access to global markets. The Bologna Ministerial Conference has contributed to putting SMEs at the forefront of the international policy agenda.
Trotz des raschen Wirtschaftswachstums in vielen Teilen der Welt lebt immer noch jeder fünfte Bewohner unseres Planeten von weniger als 1 $ pro Tag. Die Halbierung der weltweiten Armut, wie sie im Rahmen der internationalen Entwicklungsziele fest angestrebt wird, stellt heute die von allen anerkannte Priorität der internationalen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit dar. So ist sie auch das zentrale Thema des diesjährigen Berichts über die Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Der Bericht gibt einen Überblick über die jüngsten Fortschritte bei der Verwirklichung dieser Ziele, die Trends der Entwicklungsfinanzierung sowie die Politik und Leistungen der Geber. Das Augenmerk gilt dabei besonders zwei entwicklungspolitischen Maßnahmen, die einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Armutsbekämpfung leisten können, nämlich Investitionen in das Gesundheitswesen zum einen sowie der systematischen Förderung der Gleichstellung von Mann und Frau zum anderen.
As pervasive technological change and growing interdependence among countries contribute to restructuring economic activity and shaping everyday life, lifelong learning's value grows. How far have countries progressed toward lifelong learning for all? Who is being left behind, and in what ways? How might schools evolve to address remaining gaps?
In this special edition of Education Policy Analysis prepared as background for the 2001 meeting of OECD education ministers, these questions and others are explored. The analysis shows that progress and success in realising lifelong learning for all depend on clarity in framing objectives for lifelong learning and appropriate information for monitoring policy experience and examining policy options. The five chapters in this book draw upon the policy experience and trends in OECD countries to examine: -- promising directions for lifelong learning policies; -- country performance in realising lifelong learning outcomes; -- differences in participation in lifelong learning, including along a so-called "digital divide"; -- competencies demanded in the knowledge economy; -- alternate futures for schools.