The volume of corporate debt reached an all-time high in real terms of USD13.5 trillion at the end of 2019, driven by the return of more expansionary monetary policies early in the year. Additionally, the overall quality of corporate debt has declined, according to a new OECD report, Corporate Bond Market Trends, Emerging Risks and Monetary Policy.

Violence in North and West Africa is increasingly targeting civilian and border regions, according to the OECD’s Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC). Their report, The Geography of Conflict in North and West Africa, finds that the last five years have been the most violent recorded in the region, with over 60,000 people killed in 2015-2019.

A proposed solution to the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy under negotiation at the OECD would have a marked positive impact on global tax revenues, new economic analysis shows. The revenue gains would be broadly similar across high, middle and low-income economies, as a share of corporate tax revenues.

Ireland needs to prepare for rising pressures on public finances from an ageing population and external risks such as new post-Brexit EU-UK trade barriers. Addressing skills shortages is a key challenge, while planned changes to global tax rules could affect tax receipts, the OECD Economic Survey of Ireland says.

Culture can be a powerful driver of local development, particularly in today’s digital world. But which policies can make it happen? As the 2020 Venice Carnival gets under way, for insights we look back at the first-ever OECD Conference on Culture and Local Development in Venice, Italy, with this inspiring 5-minute OECD Video.