OECD FORUM 2014 HIGHLIGHTS
RESILIENT ECONOMIES “The OECD must have a mission of expanding fair and impartial rules widely around the globe in building the new economic order of the 21st century. I have great belief in the experience and the wisdom of the OECD. Surely we can change the world.� Shinzo Abe Prime Minister, Japan
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Growth should not come at the expense of certain parts of the population whether the youth, the elderly or the unemployed.” Alenka Bratušek Prime Minister, Slovenia
TRUST
“What is the point of economics if not to improve peoples’ lives, what is the point of economic policy if not to build more inclusive, more harmonious societies.” Angel Gurría Secretary-General, OECD
TRUST
“Which OECD am I talking to? Is it the Monday OECD that talks about inequality, or the Tuesday OECD that makes excuses for mass unemployment.” Richard Trumka President, TUAC; President, AFL-CIO
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“If we want to figure out how to prevent the next economic crisis, we need policies to improve income inequality.� Jason Furman Chairman, White House Council of Economic Advisers, United States
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“I think for the next 10 years developing economies will have lower growth rates than in the previous 10 years, but still higher growth than advanced economies.� Ali Babacan Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs, Turkey
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“Japan would like to become a country where innovation can continuously happen and the fruits of this innovation should be distributed to the workers through higher wages.� Akira Amari Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization, Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Japan
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“I don’t think my region is standing on its own two feet. It is receiving a lot of support, subsidies, but are they independent? I love my country, but I ask myself, is Japan really a resilient society?” Yoko Tsurimaki Student, Tohoku School, Japan
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Would I be here talking with powerful people without school? We need public schools, paid for by fair taxes. Free public services are important for reducing inequality. Free public services are virtual jobs.” Winnie Byanyima Executive Director, Oxfam International
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES “The 21st century will be messy and a lot of that messiness will be
in our region. We will have to deal with it in ways that move beyond mantras. That requires a fundamental rethinking of how we define prosperity. � Chandran Nair Founder and Chief Executive, Global Institute for Tomorrow
INCLUSIVE ECONOMIES “The OECD programme will make an important contribution to further enhancing the partnership between ASEAN countries and the OECD.” Thongloun Sisoulith Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laos
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“A society which does not enable its younger generation to obtain equal or better skills is not fulfilling an important part of the intergenerational contract.� The Rt Hon David Willetts Minister of State for Universities and Science, United Kingdom
JOBS
“I know what it is like to go from having nothing to having everything. I now live in the Netherlands, my dream. It is important to give others the same chance.� Omar Munie Designer, Omar Munie Clothing
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“Tell me which country allows you, a foreigner, to own a bank licence – you can do it in Cambodia!” Sun Chanthol Minister of Commerce, Cambodia
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“I’m not a big fan of industrial policy. Government is very bad at picking winners, but losers are very good at picking governments.” Muhamad Chatib Basri Minister of Finance, Indonesia
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“The factor that is most idle across the world today is labour. So how do we think of that issue in the sharing economy? Sharing is not the end but the means to something bigger – smart, inclusive, sustainable growth.” Mariana Mazzucato R.M. Phillips Professor in Economics of Innovation, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“There is a win-win in terms of migration and development. This is not an either/or situation. We live now in the age of mobility and policy frameworks need to reflect that.” Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie Director, Up! - Africa Limited
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Right now 100 000 employees leave companies (in Japan) yearly in order to be caregivers to the elderly.” Yukako Uchinaga President, Japan Women’s Innovative Network
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“Age discrimination is not a question of legislation. It is young and old people in the workplace agreeing that the older ones do not have to learn the new Office package.” Ulf Kristersson Minister of Social Security, Sweden
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“There is a lot of misperception in the happiness we have in living longer; we should protect less and empower more.” Herman Nijns CEO, Randstad Belgium
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Older workers are more loyal and take less sick leave than younger workers.” Mateja Kožuh Novak President, Slovenian Federation of Pensioners’ Organisations
TRUST “Science on its own cannot produce new treatments for dementia. We need ethics, patents, regulation, public relations, international collaboration, pre-clinical trials and more.� Shinya Yamanaka Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine; Professor and Director, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Japan
TRUST
“When making policy for dementia, don’t forget to listen to the real experts - the people who live with it.” Helga Rohra Chair, European Working Group of People with Dementia
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“When you look at the sharing economy model, it becomes difficult for the middle businesses, where the sharing could potentially be greatest.� William Saito Special Advisor, Cabinet Office, Japan
TRUST
“We build a lot of trust between people who have never met and by doing that we encourage positive behaviour in the system. The more you share the more you build your own trust.” Frédéric Mazzella Founder and CEO, BlaBlaCar
INCLUSIVE GROWTH “Piketty... I like the ‘picket’ part of his name.” Philip Jennings General Secretary, UNI Global Union
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“Le propre de l’Homme c’est de vouloir vivre ensemble, de vivre en agglomération.” Mohamed Boussaïd Minister of Economy and Finance, Morrocco
INCLUSIVE GROWTH “The prospects for the world economy are looking much brighter. This is not to say that all is well, rather we might say that it is more satisfactory.” Rinatro Tamaki Deputy Secretary-General, OECD
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Economically, we are all focused on regional integration and overcoming the middle-income trap. The OECD can assist us with these goals.� Surapong Tovichakchaikul Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand
TRUST
“Democracies have people at the centre of them. The OECD’s Better Life Index puts citizens at the centre of what we do.” Anthony Gooch Director of Public Affairs and Communications, OECD
INCLUSIVE GROWTH “You cannot integrate people if they don’t want or don’t know how to be integrated.” Daniela Bobeva Deputy Prime Minister, Bulgaria
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“What we consider anonymous today probably won’t be in the future.” Kenneth Cukier Data Editor, The Economist
JOBS
Since the 1990s, we have been getting progressively less creative. Why ? Maybe because we reward students for finding ‘the right answer’, rather than for learning.” Randa Grob-Zakhary CEO, LEGO Foundation
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES “The pay that tax authorities can offer is lower than the pay that tax avoiders can offer. There is an unequal struggle.” Paul Collier Director, Centre for the Study of African Economies, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, University of Oxford
JOBS
“230 million immigrants worldwide, 100 million in OECD countries, but their prospects aren’t good: unemployment has risen for migrants.” Ali Aslan Anchor, Deutsche Welle
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“The creative economy begins with the individual and making sure that individual is increasingly empowered to be creative and not afraid of failure.� Charles Rivkin Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, United States
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“A creative city is a city that is not in control. You need to give freedom of mind the space to develop itself.” Rob van Gijzel Mayor, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“Stop worrying and learn to love tax.” John Christensen Director, Tax Justice Network
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“If you want to build a world of trust you need to be completely transparent.” Peter Hustinx European Data Protection Supervisor
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“I don’t think any of you need reminding aid should be spelled T-A-X.” Zeinab Badawi Presenter, World News Today, BBC World News
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Open data is a great tool for governance.” Gus Hosein Executive Director, Privacy International
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“We are in a post-digital age. Everyone is using computers even though it may not be immediately obvious. The challenge which has arisen is that workers’ increased productivity has not been rewarded with increased wages.” Bill Spriggs Chief Economist, AFL-CIO
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“This is not for the planet. If humanity goes extinct with climate change, the planet will still be here. This struggle is about securing our children and grandchildrens’ future and showing inter-generational solidarity.” Kumi Naidoo Executive Director, Greenpeace International
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“The average life expectancy between where I live and where I work has a seven year difference.” Debra Whitman Executive Vice President, Policy, Strategy and International Affairs, AARP
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“The return on education has fallen in the United States. The world is changing faster than universities can keep up.� Tyler Cowen Holbert C. Harris Chair of Economics, George Mason University, United States; Author, Average is Over
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES “Immediately after the earthquake, people were keen to establish the safety and whereabouts of their family and friends. Phone communication was not up and running, but the internet was working and was there to help in real time.� Shinichi Abe Managing Director, Enterprise Business, Google Japan
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused us to really question ourselves - what does it mean to be a human being in society? Solidarity emerged as very important, as did fairness, discipline, fostering of both human resources and growth and inclusion.� Nobuaki Koga President, Japanese Trade union Confederation (RENGO)
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“The creation of the ASEAN Economic Community will bring increased attention on the need to share the benefits of economic growth and development both in and between member states.� Kan Zaw Minister for National Planning and Economic Development, Republic of the Union of Myanmar
RESILIENT ECONOMIES
“Resilience is like a bouncing ball. Instead of bouncing back to where we were, we should go even higher than before, go forward.” Yoichi Takita Senior Staff Writer, Nikkei
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“We brought our oyster farming back to where it was before the tsunami, then we took it further and introduced new practices. So what was negative has been transformed into a positive, a plus, thanks to new ways of thinking. This is an example of resilience!� Kohei Oyama Student, Tohoku School, Japan
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“A child from the Tohoku school said to me, ‘If we must have tsunami walls, can they be made of glass so we can see the sea?’ No adult thinks like that.” Margareta Wahlström United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
TRUST
“The failure to predict the financial crisis shows that experts are not always experts.� Philip Coggan Buttonwood Columnist and Capital Markets Editor, The Economist
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“What defines how old we are is not our chronological age, but our brain age. We assume ageing is about decline. Well, it isn’t.” Lorraine K. Tyler Head, Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain; Head, Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience, United Kingdom
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Il est devenu plus difficile d’être légitime et de donner confiance, parce que les gens sont devenus plus intelligents.” Pascal Lamy Former Director-General, World Trade Organization; Chairman, Oxford Martin Commisson for Future Generations
JOBS
“Skills discussions should not only look at hardcore skills, but also to soft skills: and these are the skills needed to be good citizens and good workers.� Giuseppe Porcaro Secretary General, European Youth Forum
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“Entrepreneurship is a male-dominated area. This needs to change: young mothers are the best managers you can find in the world.� Peter Jungen Chairman, Peter Jungen Holding GmbH
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“It’s not by chance that some people are sick and others are healthy: it’s a consequence of inequality.” John Beard Director, Ageing and Life Course Programme, World Health Organization
INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES
“Societies are ageing and there will not be enough money to pay for the current system. This may be the most dramatic change happening in our generation.� Juan Lozano Tovar Secretary General, Inter-American Conference on Social Security
TRUST
“Why do young politicians always get the questions about complaining netizens? Because we’re the ones up front changing policies.” Eva Majewski Chairwoman, European Democrat Students
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
“It’s not just that growth should be inclusive, it’s that inclusiveness contributes to growth.” Xavier de Souza Briggs Vice President of Economic Opportunity and Assets, Ford Foundation
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