Organization For Economic Cooperation Development Research Articles

Economic recession, illicit drug use and the young population: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Economic recessions impact on drug use through different channels, with potential conflicting outcomes. Previous studies have reached mixed outcomes, and a clear and comprehensive picture is difficult to depict. We use a systematic review of literature - conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines - and a hierarchical mixed-effects meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the relationship between business cycle and the use of drugs by young populations. The heterogeneity of studies was assessed by the I2 statistic, and the publication bias was evaluated with contour-enhanced funnel plots. We identify 25 studies, published over the period 2008-2020. These articles carried out an empirical analysis of the impact of the business cycle on illegal drug consumption in Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) countries. Most of the studies (17 studies) covered the 2007 financial crisis. Among the outcomes, 9 studies traced a countercyclical relationship between economic recessions and drug use, 3 showed a procyclical relationship and 13 studies found mixed results. Unemployment was the most widely used variable to assess macroeconomic conditions in most of the studies (21 studies). The meta-analysis shows a partial correlation of .03 (95% confidence interval (CI): .0147-.0453) between the unemployment rate and drug use among young individuals. Therefore, we conclude that, on average, recessions tend to boost drug use. This impact is more marked with cannabis use than it is with cocaine, opioids or other drugs. This study provides robust evidence that in periods of economic downturns, the young populations tend to increase the use of illegal drugs, with cannabis as their main preference. Therefore, in periods of economic severity, society may particularly benefit from implementing widely reaching public prevention programmes and demand reduction interventions, targeting this subgroup of the population.

Effects of transport-carbon intensity, transportation, and economic complexity on environmental and health expenditures.

Health and the environment are complex components of the countries, influenced by several factors, especially transport, and economics. Thus, this paper assesses the role of transportation and economic complexity in the environment and public health for the Organization for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) countries from 2001 to 2020. This study also focuses on the relationship between transport and economic complexity with environmental and healthcare expenditures. Precisely, transport and economic activities stimulate healthcare expenditures through multiple channels. The current study employs the STIRPAT model to investigate the association with transportation, economic complexity, transport-carbon intensity, and healthcare expenditure. Besides, the current research confirms the plausible cross-sectional dependency across countries, and it adopts a second-generation technique. Analytical findings suggest that transportation-carbon intensity is positively and significantly associated with healthcare expenditures. Healthcare and transport-household expenditures increase transport-carbon intensity (TCI) by 75% and 45%, respectively, in the long run. In the contrast, TCI and transport-household expenditures have also a remarkable impact on healthcare expenditures and are estimated approximately 95% in the long run. Moreover, economic growth also upsurges TCI and healthcare expenditures through multiple economic activities. Besides, transport-household expenditures (THE) drastically impact transport-carbon intensity and healthcare expenditures (HEX) through passenger traffic (PTF). Diagnostic upshots unveil that the joint effect of THE and PTF increases TCI and HEX by 4 and 3%, respectively. Finally, findings recommend some policy implications and future research directions for the countries based on empirical outcomes. Countries should regulate economic activities to reduce transport carbon emissions.

Comparative Analysis of Long-Term Care in OECD Countries: Focusing on Long-Term Care Financing Type.

This study aims to examine the characteristics of long-term care (LTC) financing in Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) countries. To this end, the 26 OECD countries that have introduced LTC systems were classified into three types of models: tax-based, health insurance, and LTC insurance (LTCI) systems. Thereafter, these systems were analyzed using Gilbert and Terrell's policy analysis framework. The results indicated differences in the characteristics of each type of financing in terms of allocation, benefit provision, service delivery, and finance. It is likely that while the LTC insurance model was mainly based on universalism and showed the highest level of coverage, the tax-based and health insurance models adopted selectivism with lower level of benefits per capita. In terms of service delivery, local authorities tended to have the responsibility to decide LTC service users and provide services in many countries, regardless of the type of model. In terms of finance, LTC insurance-based countries had the highest LTC expenditure as a percentage of GDP, followed by countries with tax-based and health insurance systems.

Towards human-robot collaboration in meat processing: Challenges and possibilities

Meat is one of the main sources of protein in human nutrition. During recent years meat production volume has been showing significant growth worldwide. The total growth of red meat production is expected to show an 80% increase by 2029, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD). Such growth indicates the necessity for existing production line modernisation to satisfy future increased demand for meat products.

A Systematic Literature Review on Tax Evasion: Insights and Future Research Agenda

Emerging research studies in the subject of tax evasion have selected a variety of factors to verify their influence on the intentional non-compliance behaviour (tax evasion). However, a holistic review of tax evasion covering global literatures remains elusive. Therefore, this paper intends to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to review the existing articles in the past 10 years, encapsulating 100 papers starting from 2010, in which Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) established the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters in order to reduce tax evasion with the help of collaborated network. The review articulates those existing studies have limited their exploration within individual and economic related factors, but less focused on the other variables such as digitalization of public services, corporate social responsibility, and whistle-blowing efforts. This paper also exhibits the avenues for future researchers in the subject of tax evasion.

Anti-snake venom and analgesic activities of extracts and betulinic and oleanolic acids isolated from Parinari curatellifolia

Background: Parinari curatellifolia is used in Nigeria by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) for the treatment of snakebite and other conditions. Aim: This study is aimed at evaluating the anti-snake venom (ASV) and analgesic activities of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts as well as that of betulinic and oleanolic acids. Setting: The extracts and the isolates were subjected to acute toxicity studies, anti-snake venom and analgesic activities. Methods: Acute toxicity studies for the extracts were performed according to Lorke’s method whilst that of betulinic and oleanolic acids were performed according to Organization for Economic Co-operation Development 425 at the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg in mice. The ASV activity of the extracts and the betulinic and oleanolic acids were screened against Naja nigricollis venom phospholipases using the phospholipase-A2 acidimetric assay. The analgesic activity of ethyl acetate extract (35 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg, 140 mg/kg), betulinic acid (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) and oleanolic acid (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) were evaluated using acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in mice. Results: The LD 50 of the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were 113 mg/kg and 471.17 mg/kg, respectively, whilst that of the betulinic and oleanolic acids were greater than 2000 mg/kg. In the ASV study, the extracts inhibited the hydrolytic action of phospholipases with a percentage inhibition of 24.1% (n-hexane), 29.3% (ethyl acetate) and 20.7% (methanol), whilst the ASV (standard) caused 72.9% inhibition. On the other hand, the betulinic and oleanolic acids inhibited the hydrolytic action of phospholipases with a percentage inhibition of 35.6% and 31.4% respectively. For the analgesic evaluation, the ethyl acetate extract exhibited analgesic activity by producing a significant ( p < 0.05) reduction in the number of writhes (7.75 ± 1.20, 11.82 ± 3.10 and 14.98 ± 2.72) at 140 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg and 35 mg/kg, respectively. Betulinic acid at 10 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg showed a mean number of writhes of 3.40 ± 0.8, 4.20 ± 1.4 and 5.60 ± 2.1, respectively. Oleanolic acid at 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg also showed 7.50 ± 2.6 and 6.40 ± 1.8 mean number of writhes. Conclusion: This study has validated scientifically why P. curatellifolia is used traditionally in the treatment of snakebite, as the ethyl acetate extract and the isolated compounds moderately inhibited the hydrolytic action of phospholipase-A2. Also, betulinic and oleanolic acids exhibited analgesic activity in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.

Marginalisation in education systems: The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the failure discourse around the Italian education system

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) created the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) as a political actor in global education through a logic of governance by numbers (Grek, 2009). This article discusses how PISA has became a major showcase for the OECD as an assessment tool par excellence while also producing marginalisation discourses. By approaching neoliberal globalisation and its aim at restoring the transnational capitalist class’ power over the “dangerous” classes (Harvey, 2005; Holman, 2006; Van Apeldoorn, 2001; Van der Pijl, 2010), this article analyses how school privatisation has grown in the Italian system over the last few years in the face of the PISA discourse (Bertozzi & Graziano, 2004). Building on document research and reports by Italian teachers, it traces how PISA’s pressure over the Italian school system has produced a twofold marginalizing effect. The first effect is the periodical disclosure of PISA rankings to distinguish successful from failed education systems. In fact, recent PISA results have placed the Italian system as a failed, technologically retarded system compared to those of high-performance countries. The second effect is the burst of neoliberal feelings among teachers, who report both stigma and guilt.

Minding the Gap: A (Re)consideration of Influences on Student Success

Drawing partly on publicly accessible commentary on 2015 Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) scores (Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development, [OECD], 2016),i this article reminds educators of the need to reflect on past, present, and possible future interventions and strategies to help all students be academically successful. Discussion includes how a STEM/STEAM-based 21st century skills framework can have a positive impact on student achievement by creating an engaging, challenging, rigorous, student-centered teaching and learning environment. The article stresses the importance of taking a unified ecological approach involving home, school, and community settings when attempting to understand how and why students have been academically successful, and conversely unsuccessful. Reminding educators of the importance of reform across the entire PK-21 setting, this article provides a timely (re)discussion of a perennial yet crucial educational topic on how to meet the needs of current and future students in a rapidly changing world.

Book Review: Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development

In Skills for Social Progress: The Power of Social and Emotional Skills, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) quantifies the value and role of social and emotional skills, also known as soft skills, in global education.

Has the redistributive effect of social transfers and taxes changed over time across countries?

AbstractIn most Member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation Development (OECD), the income gap between rich and poor has widened over the past decades. This article analyses whether and to what extent income taxes and social transfers have contributed to this trend. Has the redistributive impact of different social programmes changed over time? We use microdata from the LIS Cross National Data Center in Luxembourg for the period 1982–2014 and study both the total population and the working‐age population. In contrast to the results of some other studies, especially by the OECD, we do not find that redistribution has declined. Tax‐benefit systems around 2013 are more effective at reducing income inequality compared to the mid‐1980s and the mid‐1990s, especially among the total population. Changes in social programmes are not a driver of greater income inequality across the countries included in this study.

The Influence of Teaching Approach on Students' Conceptual Learning in Physics.

Physics is fundamental to secure future needs for scientific and technological competence (Angell et al., 2004), but many countries experience a drop in students’ performances in international assessments (Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development [OECD], 2018), as well as in rates of enrolment in undergraduate programs in scientific disciplines (STEM). Socio-constructivist theories have produced a reforming movement in several educational systems, in particular in the area of sciences, but teacher often consider them an idealistic view of education and do not consider themselves metacognitively competent enough to foster thinking in the classroom. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of different teaching methods on high-school students’ conceptual knowledge of physics, after the effect of science-related beliefs and critical thinking skills was controlled. We adopted a mixed-method with sequential design, in which quantitative and qualitative data flow are inter-mixed. In specific, we interviewed four high school physics teachers to identify teaching approaches (qualitative approach) and compared them in terms of efficacy on students’ performances (quantitative approach). Four teachers and 77 10th grade students participated. Teachers were interviewed during the school years and asked questions about their teaching experience, their teaching approach (Kang and Wallace, 2005) and their epistemic beliefs (Tsai, 2002). Students performances in Science-related beliefs (Conley et al., 2004), critical thinking (Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level X, Millman et al., 2005), and conceptual knowledge in physics (The Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation, Ramlo, 2002) were evaluated twice, at the beginning and at the end of the school year. The independent-sample t-tests on pre-test variables did not reveal any statistically significant difference between groups. Results from the complex samples GLM revealed statistically significant differences on post-test scores in conceptual knowledge in physics, after the effect of covariates was controlled. Overall, the study contributes to our understanding on current teaching practices in school, and their effect on students’ conceptual understanding of physics concepts.

Acute Toxicity Study of Silver Nanoparticle Coupled with Euphorbia thymifolia

Nanomedicine is widely explored nowadays for treatment of life threatening diseases, yet comes with various challenges and questions. The present study encapsulates the acute toxicological aspects of the Euphorbia thymifolia coupled silver nanoparticles (ET-Ag NP). For acute toxicity studies according to OCED (Organization for Economic Cooperation Development) guidelines Swiss Albino mice (6-8 weeks) were used and were given single intraperitoneal dose of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight and were observed for mortality and other side effects for 14 days. The individual components of the formulation, viz. silver oxide in surface modified nano form and at low dose, and Euphorbia thymifolia are both biocompatible materials. No changes were found for general appearance, behavior and body weight, thus concluding that the nanocomposite formulation does not have single dose toxicity.

Estimating Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate And Misalignment In An Oil Exporting Country: Libya's Experience

Exchange rate misalignments has attract a significant attention especially in developing economies; Libyan economy has witnessed a major economic and political changes. Libyan exchange rate has been changed specifically after 2000, and political instability after 2011. This paper aims to shed a light on the equilibrium real exchange path to obtain the misalignments level (over and undervaluation) periods for the Libyan economy. This problem have not received an adequate intention from the policy makers in Libya. Cashin (2004) model is used to determine the main fundamentals that affect the equilibrium path. After applying time series analysis for a period (1975-2015). This paper utilized annual data covering the period (1975-2015); and the data extracted from Central Bank of Libya (CBL), International Financial Statistics (IFS), Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD, Arab monetary Fund (AMF) and World Bank (WB). After testing stationarity of time series using ADF and P.P, this study applies co-integration technique to investigate long relationship between exchange arte and its fundamentals. Then, it performs the vector error correction model (VECM) to compare between long run and short relationships, supported by impulse response functions. The main findings of this study as follows. First, real oil prices and real relative productivity are found to play a significant role in the real exchange rate. For Libyan case, this study includes the degree of openness to this model because the Libyan authorities applied intensive restrictions to restrict external trade for a long time. Second, the results of VECM technique reveal that the speed of adjustment is 4.5 years for half-life to return to the actual level of exchange rate to the equilibrium path. In addition, the results from the impulse response functions (IRFs) found that the real exchange rate responds positively to the shocks in (rop) and (rrp), whereas responds negatively to the shocks in (open). Finally, the real exchange rate for the Libyan economy is recently overvaluation by more than 40%. This study provides some important policy implications for Policy maker specifically monetary authorities (Central Bank of Libya) should consider misalignments of Libyan exchange rate, and implement a proper policy to keep the exchange rate reasonably close to what fundamentals suggest. Policy makers should reduce money supply and increase exchange rate. A managed floating exchange rate policy could be a choice.

OECD aims to lower costs, animal use in toxicity tests

The Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) is promoting a method to decrease the cost of chemical toxicity testing and the use of animals in such tests. The Paris-based organization, which serves as a forum for governments to find solutions to global problems, released voluntary guidance on March 22 to help regulators and scientists incorporate toxicity pathways into chemical hazard assessments. The method uses “adverse outcome pathways,” defined as a series of events initiated by exposure to a chemical. Such events can result in effects at the molecular, cellular, organ, organism, or population level. By unraveling the sequences of key events, scientists can better understand how chemicals exert their toxicity. High-throughput, cell-based assays and other alternative toxicity tests that don’t rely on animals should be based on knowledge of these mechanisms, the guidance states. OECD is working with the U.S. EPA and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to

The influences of different R&D types on productivity growth in OECD countries

ABSTRACTProductivity has become an important concern for the sustainable development and growth of a country. Countries, such as those in the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD), that actively innovate and conduct Research and Development (R&D) activities always have high productivity growth, with research to date examining the positive influences of R&D on productivity. R&D activities are classified into three types: basic research, applied research and experimental development. To test the different influences of the different R&D types, panel data from 23 OECD countries for the period 1996–2010 have been constructed and the Data Envelopment Analysis method is used to measure and decompose productivity growth. Moreover, based on Mansfield's [“Basic Research and Productivity Increase in Manufacturing.” The American Economic Review 70: 863–873] model, the influences of each R&D type on productivity growth are tested. The empirical tests show that R&D investments in experimental development and applied research have a positive effect on productivity growth in the immediate period; basic research influences productivity growth with a lengthier lag, even up to three periods.

Comparative Study of Community Resilience in Mega Coastal Cities Threatened by Sea Level Rise: The Case of Alexandria and Jakarta

This study aims to develop a Flood Disaster Resilience Index (FDRI), as an attempt to measure the level of communities’ resilience in mega coastal cities. The FDRI is developed on five resilience-based capitals: Governance, Economic, Natural, Physical and Social. Alexandria in Egypt and Jakarta in Indonesia are selected as case studies, as they rank the 11th and the 20th in terms of population exposed to coastal flooding by 2070, according the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD). The study showed that higher values of resilience are correlated with higher preparedness and sustainability to cope with flood disasters and vice versa.

Ability of Sugar based Glucoside Surfactants to Remove Petroleum Contaminants

A study is carried out to evaluate the efficiency of synthesized sugar based alkyl polyglucosides (APG 10 , APG 12 , APG 14 ) for washing petroleum oil contaminants from soil in the shallow perched aquifers. Their efficiencies were compared with other commercially important non-ionic surfactants. viz. Tween-20, Tween-40 and Brij-58. The APG 10 was synthesized from anhydrous glucose and decyl alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst in a cost effective manner. The spectroscopic tools viz, FTIR, NMR, thin layer and mass chromatographic techniques were used for structural elucidation of APG 10 . Based on the measurement of critical micelle concentration, the preferred concentrations of aqueous surfactant solutions for soil washing are determined. The batch washing experiments have shown that the oil removal efficiencies decrease in the following order APG 14 >Brij-58>APG 12 >APG 10 >Tween-40>Tween-20. Biodegradability test of the APG 10 have been carried out by modified OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation&Development) screening method to evaluate its environmental compatibility. More than 90% surfactants are found to degrade within one week period in river water.

Design of an assessment system for collaborative problem solving in STEM education

This study developed an assessment system for evaluating junior high students’ collaborative problem-solving skills (CPS) in the context of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. The main theoretical basis for designing the CPS learning goals of this assessment system is the matrix of collaborative problem solving proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD). In this assessment system, there are eight assessment modules in STEM education developed by four groups of researchers who participated in this study. The modules were delivered as a web-based learning platform, where the computer was programmed to act as the agent of collaboration (rather than human-to-human collaboration), thus making this exploratory study more unique. The eight modules included problem tasks such as designing shelves, using a microwave oven, construct a house, etc. In order to ensure the validity of the assessment system, including the eight assessment modules in STEM education, three specialists were invited to examine the eight modules’ content validity. Additionally, in order to ensure criterion-related validity of the effectiveness of the modules, they were tested among 222 Taiwanese junior high students. Discrimination and difficulty indices were obtained for student CPS performance on each of the eight modules. Furthermore, intercorrelations were obtained for the students’ performance on each of the eight assessment modules in relation to overall and each of three collaborative problem-solving skills, i.e., (1) Establishing and maintaining shared understandings, (2) Taking appropriate action to solve the problem, and (3) Establishing and maintaining team organization. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) there was an evidence that the assessment system items had acceptable difficulty and satisfactory discrimination; (2) the intercorrelations of the students’ performance on the eight tasks in relation to overall and each of the three collaborative problem-solving skill dimensions were sufficiently significant, in most cases, to conclude that the eight tasks are consistently producing the same performance outcomes for overall and each of the three skills; that is, this assessment system was deemed effective for evaluating junior high students’ collaborative problem-solving skills in STEM education; and (3) with respect to some of the challenges in evaluating students’ collaborative problem-solving skills, one of the most demanding for us was designing a series of tasks and questions in evaluating students’ performance in establishing and maintaining team organization. Hence, we recommend that further research on students’ performance in establishing and maintaining team organization should be the focus of future studies.

Missing — The People's Voice: Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development

Sustainable development in education for future economic growth has always been a global focal point for non-governmental agencies across the world. This article highlights the extensive work the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) has achieved over time, constructing contemporary society as we know it today, continually leading the way in educational research and development globally. The research produced by the OECD is closely monitored and followed by many policy makers. In contrast, this article also critically reflects on the adverse effects of using a neo-liberal approach to educational reforms, which seems to be the backbone of the OECD approach to educational development, in the desperate race for economic improvement worldwide. The ideology provides us with many advantages in terms of economic growth, but at what price? Although the mission of the OECD is clearly established, room for criticism arises when the site predominantly spotlights broader issues rather than pursuing specific matters such as child poverty in schools, or thoe loss of indigenous knowledge. As the OECD continues to assess its own progress and strive for improvement, discussions around alignment of culture and specific needs of individual countries need to be taken into serious consideration.

Canada ranks low on patient safety in international comparison

There is a “clear opportunity for improvement” on patient safety in Canada, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Canada ranks below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) average on several patient safety indicators, states the institute’s