Economic and Development Review Committee (EDRC) Mr. Svein Gjedrem
1.
What is the mission and mandate of your Committee?
The mission of the EDRC is "to improve the economic performance of Members and non-Members on a sustainable basis by promoting a better understanding of their key economic challenges and to help strengthen their economic policies." 2. You have been designated Committee Chair. What is your background and what has convinced you to take up this post? How do you consider your background and experience contribute to such a role and function? I have been Governor of the Central Bank in Norway (Norges Bank) for 12 years and also served for a number of years as a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance, as well as as Permanent Secretary in the latter over two periods. I have participated in international cooperation within and beyond international multinational organisations. I participated in my first OECD meeting back in 1979, and have followed developments in the Organisation since then. 3.
What is your main priority as Chair?
My main priority is to help bring forward the best economic analysis and advice to the countries that the knowledge and experience of the Committee and its Secretariat can provide. 4. How would you define the added value of your Committee in relation to the work of the OECD in an international context? How does it differ from other international fora dealing with the same topic? The Committee and the Secretariat have broad insight into macroeconomic analysis and policies. Organisations like the IMF and BIS have the same staff. What is really different is the OECD and the EDRC focus on structural policies, structural reforms and broader measures relating to people’s wellbeing. 5. Are you facing any specific major challenge derived from the current multilateral environment? Yes, we have frank and open discussions in the Committee, for example on trade policies, currentaccount developments and the balance between fiscal and monetary policies 6. How do you encourage, and ensure national experts engage productively in the work of your Committee? The Secretariat approaches both official and independent experts in their preparations for the Committee Meetings and their work on the surveys. Government representatives and experts participate at the meetings and bring forward their views on the draft Economic Surveys.
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