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和平
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ASIA
26 March 2014
OECD Week 2013

OECD Week 2013

Financial and economic crisis have mutated into a political, social and philosophical crisis in America and Europe. This will be at the heart of discussions at OECD Week 2013.

Financial and economic crisis have mutated into political, social and philosophical crisis in America and Europe. This will be at the heart of discussions at OECD Week 2013.

Follow us this week, as we report on this year's discussions at the OECD.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development remains one of world's best sources of economic and social data and analysis, and is still an outstanding thought leader, more than 50 years after its creation. The OECD is also an important meeting place for its member governments, who should better exploit its work.

The OECD is still however very much a North Atlantic organisation, from the Cold War era, despite the past two decades of globalization. Its membership has expanded beyond its base of North America, Western Europe and Oceania (Australia, Japan and New Zealand). But its new members are either friends of America (Chile, Israel and Korea) or new EU members from central Europe. Large emerging countries like Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa work with the OECD, but at a distance, as non-members.

It is the existential problems of these old rich OECD countries -- jobs, equality and trust -- which will be at the heart of the debates at the 2013 edition of the annual OECD Week. The big events are the annual OECD ministerial meeting and the OECD Forum.

But it is the Forum where much of the real action takes place, as debates involve all stakeholders – not just ministers, but business, labour, civil society and academia. And the agenda of this OECD Forum 2013 shows the depth of the political, social and philosophical crisis in America and Europe.

The scars of the crisis find their place in sessions like: what’s up with banks; too big to pay tax; unemployees; addressing inequalities for a more inclusive society; austerity vs. growth: a false dilemma?, rebuilding trust, and ... scars of the crisis.

The philosophical perplexities of this moment in history are evident in topics like: old politics, new politics; the power of one; the male factor; learning to listen; the new societal contract; and women of influence.

Thankfully, OECD Week 2013 will also be looking ahead, and looking at the world beyond the crisis in OECD countries, with discussions on: the 21st century production revolution; the African renaissance; the enterprising state; energy choices for a sustainable future; and ... the Asian Century!

In the words of OECD Secretary General Angel Gurrïa: "Better policies for better lives is a journey, not a destination, and all these issues will be at the centre of the 2013 OECD Forum and Ministerial Council meeting discussions."

For the many citizens in OECD countries which have suffered, and are still suffering, from these six years of crisis, this journey has been too long. We can only hope that OECD Week 2013 will help to accelerate a recovery from this political, social and philosophical crisis.

Follow us this week as we report on the discussions from OECD Week 2013.

Author

John West
Executive Director
Asian Century Institute
www.asiancenturyinstitute.com

REFERENCES:

- OECD Week 2013

Tags: asia, OECD, OECD Week 2013, OECD Forum

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