OECD countries accounted for around 50% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expressed in Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) in 2011 - the latest benchmark year - compared with about 60% in 2005, the previous benchmark year, according to new data released today by the International Comparison Program (ICP).

Inequality – now at its highest level in decades in many countries – undermines economic growth and well-being, says a new OECD report. But policies to tackle the widening gap between rich and poor will only succeed if they also look beyond income and address better access to high-quality education, health care and public infrastructure, it adds.

Japanese users of the Better Life Index (BLI) worry most about safety, Australians seek work-life balance, Latin Americans strive for better education, and Danes want to be happy – user feedback shows as the Index marks its third birthday.

Smarter planning for natural and man-made disasters that increases collaboration between countries and encourages households and businesses to take more responsibility would improve resilience and reduce future economic losses, a new OECD report says.

The Southeast Asia region, with more than half-a-billion people, is among the fastest-growing regions in the world but levels of growth and prosperity within the region remain uneven. Good policies need to be implemented in the region to maintain strong growth and make it more inclusive, boosting productivity, reducing poverty, and avoid falling into the “middle income trap”.

The global economy will strengthen over the coming two years, but urgent action is still required to further reduce unemployment and address other legacies from the crisis, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook.

Bank secrecy for tax purposes is coming to an end as countries and major financial centres commit to automatic exchange of information between jurisdictions.

The OECD’s new Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), released during the Organisation’s annual Ministerial Council Meeting, provides a unique and comprehensive snapshot of services trade restrictions across 18 sectors in 40 leading economies, representing over 80% of global services trade.

The OECD’s 34 member countries today affirmed their common resolve to work towards a deal on combating climate change at the COP21 talks in Paris in 2015. OECD accession countries Colombia and Latvia joined the statement issued at the Organisation’s annual Ministerial Council Meeting, attended by finance, economy, trade and other ministers.

OECD annual inflation picks up to 1.6% in March 2014 but slows in Euro area