oecd x usc

Become the next OECD Student Ambassador and Win a FREE Trip to Paris

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:25:49 -0800

Become the next OECD Student Ambassador and Win a FREE Trip to Paris

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is the Organization that since 1961 has provided fact-based analysis and policy advice to help governments achieve and measure progress. To this day we continue to promote better policies for better lives.

Dear Faculty,

As we begin our third year of this highly successful program, the OECD Washington Center is inviting undergraduate students from different campuses across the US and Canada to apply for this exciting year-long ambassadorship. Our goal is to select well-qualified and motivated students with demonstrated interest in economics and international relations. The student ambassadors will engage with the OECD and plan activities to raise awareness of the organization and its work on their campuses. The details of the program are spelled out in the attached document which we invite you to post and disseminate in your department. Also, attached is a flyer with information about the current 2011-2012 class of OECD Student Ambassadors.

The time commitment will include: an initial training weekend in Washington, DC on June 2^nd and 3^rd 2012 and work should not exceed 40 hours per semester. Based on their performance, two student ambassadors will be invited to attend the OECD Forum in Paris in May/June 2013. Expenses for both of these trips plus a budget related to promotional activities on campus will be paid by the OECD. All other Student Ambassadors who have successfully completed the program will receive a certificate of participation and a letter of recommendation.

Please encourage the students from your university to submit applications and should you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Elodie

Elodie Turchi

Public Affairs Consultant

OECD Washington Center

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

2001 L Street NW, Suite 650 - Washington, DC 20036
Tel: +1 202 822 3861 - Mobile: +1 202 550 7329

elodie.turchi@oecd.org

Check out our new website www.oecd.org/washington

Development Dialogue: Towards Green Growth Event This Thursday!

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:21:26 -0700

Development Dialogue: Towards Green Growth Event This Thursday!

Development Dialogue: Lunch and Learn with USC Marshall Society and Business Lab

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:20:00 -0700

RSVP October Lunch & Learn

Organic Food Delivery

Carl Cade, Revolution Foods

Wednesday, October 12^th

12:30 – 1:50 p.m. in JKP 104

Development Dialogue: First Event Next Tuesday!

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:26:10 -0700

INTERESTED in U.S.-MEXICAN RELATIONS?
HOW ABOUT a CAREER in the FOREIGN SERVICE?

Tuesday, September 27
CLAYTON ALDERMAN, Pol/Econ Officer, U.S. Consulate Tijuana, Mexico (USC SIR alum)
OECD Development Dialogue Series
Topic: “U.S. Foreign Policy and Presence in Mexico”
Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS), Room B40
Discussant: Carol Wise, Associate Professor of International Relations, USC
Food/refreshments will be provided.

Talk immediately followed by Career Info session:
“Is the Foreign Service Right for You?: Insight from a USC International Relations Grad”
Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm
Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS), Room B40
Coffee/cookies will be provided.

Clayton Alderman will discuss:

The Foreign Service from USC
The Test and Recruitment Process
What is it Really Like? The Nature of the Job
The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Baja California

Clayton Alderman is a Foreign Service Officer serving at the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico as a Political and Economics Officer. He is a USC Alumnus that graduated in 2007 with a major in International Relations and Philosophy. He has lived and worked in Syria, Egypt, Mexico and will be continuing to his next post in Baghdad, Iraq next year as an Economics Officer. He primarily specializes in the political and economic situation of the U.S.-Mexico border region.

These events are part of the OECD Development Dialogue series (http://oecdxusc.tumblr.com/), and co-sponsored by the USC Center for International Studies and USC School of International Relations. Email Daniel Paly at paly@usc.edu for more info.

Our Economic Woes Need a Long-Term Fix

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:18:51 -0700

Our Economic Woes Need a Long-Term Fix:

An op-ed from OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria.

In Less Exciting News...

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:57:33 -0700

In Less Exciting News...:

Sorry to have to start off the year with less than upbeat news, but in keeping with the direction of the global economy:

New OECD data shows a further slowdown in economic growth for its member (mostly characterized as developed) countries in the second quarter…

Welcome to the 2011-2012 OECD Student Ambassador Program

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:51:43 -0700

The new year is kicking off here at USC and so is OECDxUSC! Come check out the program at tomorrow’s (Wednesday, August 24th) Involvement Fair on Trousdale Parkway and Alumni Park from 11am to 2pm.

Also make sure to check out our updated About page and stay tuned for the 2011-2012 Development Dialogue with exciting new Events on the horizon!

Israel is a Prosperous but Radically Unequal Economy

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:34:34 -0700

Israel is a Prosperous but Radically Unequal Economy:

One of the first OECD reports I’ve seen based on Israel, a new member country as of May 2010, and its economic inequality.

Malaysia applies for OECD member status

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:19:11 -0700

Malaysia applies for OECD member status

OECD urges Japan to raise Sales tax

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:07:45 -0700

In the wake of the magnitude-9 earthquake in Japan last month, the Japanese government has been reluctant to raise tax rates due to the widespread devastation and economic panic caused by the quake and its subsequent tsunami. However, the OECD has been looking more forward. In its regular economic survey on Japan, the OECD asserts that while production may fall in the short term, the long term economic outlook in Japan is much more positive. The OECD therefore believes a rise in sales tax a useful, if not necessary, tool to finance reconstruction.

Unemployment may linger

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:45:23 -0700

The OECD released a report today (summarized here in the Wall Street Journal) that expressed concern with the risk that unemployment rates may linger at their current highs as OECD member economies attempt to recover.

Many, if not most, OECD member countries’ unemployment rates have lifted by at least 2% since the economic crisis. The UK, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and the US have raised by 5% or more, and Spain’s unemployment has increased by a remarkable 12%.

Another concern is that this list, besides the US and the UK so far, includes the debt crisis or near-debt crisis countries. Monday’s report from Standard and Poor that predicted negative outcomes for the US debt rating make this even more worrisome a statistic.

OECD Video Competition Winners have been Announced!

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:43:50 -0700

OECD Video Competition Winners have been Announced!

Woergoetter Follow-Up

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:31:00 -0700

In the wake of our February talk with Mr. Andreas Woergoetter (head of OECD Economics Division), this article from Bloomberg discusses the OECD’s arguments for developing tighter fiscal policies in Estonia. The article explains that Estonia, who adopted the Euro just this past January, should adopt spending ceilings and a regulatory mechanism to help moderate the effects of economic cycles. In the most recent economic crisis, Estonia faced a loss of nearly 20 percent of its GDP, crushing its ability to generate economic growth. This kind of economic vulnerability is precisely why the OECD is suggesting that more stringent and specific measures be taken to avoid a similar catastrophe in the future.

Estonia’s central government spending doubled from 2004 to 2008 as the country went through a property-driven boom. While there is little doubt that the pro-cyclical policies in Estonia aggravated the downturn, the economic production downturn makes it difficult for a strong comeback.

Interestingly, Estonia still had the best public finances among the 17 members of the currency bloc last year, according to the European Commission. The country had a 2010 surplus of 0.1 percent of GDP and public debt of 6.6 percent, the national statistics office said last month.

As Mr. Woergoetter explained, these kinds of inconsistencies (good public finances but a huge financial crash) are what makes Estonia such an interesting case study for economic analysis. I thought it was exciting that this article was posted in such a major economic publication, on precisely the issue we discussed in our talk with Mr. Woergoetter. I’ll certainly keep an eye out for news about Estonia and keep you posted.

Blame Canada?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:55:57 -0700

While most Americans view Canada as a fairly safe and reputable country, the latest OECD report notes that Canadian firms might display more indicators of corruption than one would normally assume. I found this article, referencing accounting and auditing firm Ernst & Young’s concern that Canadian firms might be exposed to increased fraud investigation as a result of the OECD report.

While Canada remains relatively low in corruption, the OECD cites expectations of better fraud surveillance in the upcoming years. One of their greatest concerns is that Canada has had just one prosecution in the 10 years since its anti-corruptions laws were passed. Among other recommendations, the OECD proposes that Canada urgently dedicate more resources to prosecute over 20 active fraud investigations.

While it is unsure what effect such recommendations might have on business in Canada, corruption in developed economies is certainly being watched more closely in the wake of the 2009 financial crisis.

Who works the longest?

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:25:59 -0700

This article summarizes the OECD’s publication Society at a Glance, released on Tuesday. Society at a Glance looks at social trends and policy developments in OECD countries. Using indicators taken from the larger OECD databases and other sources, it demonstrates how societies are changing over time and compared with other countries.

This article specifically examines a chapter that looks at unpaid work (as well as paid), such as cooking, cleaning, caring, and shopping in the OECD member countries as well as in China, India, and South Africa.

According to this publication, Mexican workers put in the most hours, with 10 hours (combined paid and unpaid) of work, 3 of which are work around the house. Belgium had the least number of hours, at 7. The OECD member country average was 8 hours, where Americans clocked 8.5 hours per day. South Korea showed the least number of unpaid hours, at 1 hour and 19 minutes on average.

this is a fun one

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:46:56 -0700

this is a fun one:

This is a fun one! I very rarely come across a secondary source talking about the OECD, its history, and its role in global politics. Here, the Telegraph is trying to make my job easier. Love it! Definitely check out this link.

UAE and OECD

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:30:07 -0700

UAE and OECD:

This article discusses recent UAE efforts to build a stronger relationship with the OECD, hoping to decrease their dependence on oil revenues and diversify their international trading prospects.

Spending too much or taxing to little?

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:27:44 -0700

To continue our discussion on tax, this article from The Economist attempts to break down the changes in OECD member country deficits by discussing additional spending and lowering taxes in the wake of the Great Recession.

Countries like Hungary have been spending less and taxing more, where as the United States has been spending more and taxing less.

How better to balance the budget?

“When it comes to deficit-cutting, economists generally prefer spending cuts to tax increases on both practical (such an approach has worked better in the past) and ideological grounds.”

Tax Policy: Appropriating the Surplus

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:11:00 -0700

As a follow up to the recent article about tax distribution in OECD articles, I found this blog entry (or, in fact, a series of blog entries) from the Economist that again approaches the idea about the appropriateness and progressiveness of OECD member countries’ tax systems.

Whereas the previous article considers the US tax system the most progressive of any OECD member country, this article displays the more traditional arguments against the US tax system - low corporate tax and low overall tax, even as compared to other OECD member countries.

One idea re-emerges from this article that I consider important to think about and discuss:

First, there is a difference between the percentage of tax imposed on a country’s households and businesses, the numerical value of those taxes collected, and the percentage of total GDP taxed within a country’s system. In almost every regard, the US falls below its OECD companions, indicating that the US might consider raising taxes in order to maintain the public services it requires and to reduce its federal deficit. However, as the article points out, there are certainly economic downsides to increased taxes, particularly on corporations. Corporations can pass of the taxes by raising prices, hiring less people, or by moving to a more tax-friendly environment.

Where would you find the balance between the lowest tax rate among similarly developed countries and the ability to maintain a business-friendly environment for domestic and foreign corporations? Which one, if either, of these possibilities is most important? And, perhaps most provocatively, should the US raise taxes? Now? Later? Never? Let’s open up the floor- let me know what you think!

Looking at Japan's recovery

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:40:42 -0700

Japan’s recent earthquake, an event now referred to as “3/11”, has caused a lot of speculation among investors. Where should investors place their money in light of the crisis? Will Japan be able to bounce back? How can this crisis be turned into an opportunity for good policy?

The answers to these questions are difficult to predict, as they depend on so many variables in the upcoming months. However, the policies and actions that could fill a void like Japan’s current crisis are the type of issues that OECD economists try to tackle.

This article from The Economist was a particularly helpful outline of the current situation in Japan (particularly for business movement in japan), and how we can think about Japan’s upcoming recovery. Let me know what you think - what kinds of policies could Japan use to improve their situation in the near and medium terms? How could the recovery from this disaster be used for the future improvement of living conditions for Japan’s people?