Services are transforming OECD economies on a massive scale, but are still impeded by regulations and policies that stifle innovation and competition. Comprehensive reforms need to be pursued internationally as well as in individual OECD countries. These are the principal conclusions reached by...

The International Producer Price Index Manual (PPI Manual) published by the IMF in 2004, constituted a landmark for international standards on price measurement and contains detailed, comprehensive information for the compilation of producer price indices. This Methodological Guide for...

The OECD Compilation Manual for Index of Services Production contains guidelines and methodologies to measure short-term production activities of the services sector by national agencies and international organisations. The Manual fills a gap in existing international statistical standards for...

Professional administrative leadership is regarded as crucial in all OECD countries for the quality and efficiency of the administration at large as well as for its corporate culture. This issue has been dealt with differently in different countries. Some countries, such as Germany, France or...

The services sector now accounts for over 70% of total employment and value added in OECD economies. It also accounts for almost all employment growth in the OECD area. But despite its growing weight, productivity growth in services has been slow in many OECD countries and the share of the...

At its meeting in May 2003, the Ministerial Council asked the OECD to analyse the contribution made by the services sector to employment growth, productivity and innovation, and to identify factors, institutions and policies that could enhance the growth prospects of this sector. In response to...