Latest news with #OrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Thanks to Trump administration, Mathias Cormann on top of the world
Looks like Donald Trump has finally found an Australian politician he likes (no, not former Ashfield deputy mayor turned next US ambassador to Malaysia Nick Adams). With the Trump administration's support, Mathias Cormann has had his mandate as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development extended for a second five-year term. Cigars all round! As finance minister in the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison governments, the Belgian-born Liberal senator for Western Australia had to shrug off global concerns about the Coalition's recalcitrant approach to emissions reduction and climate policy to land the top gig in 2021. Those concerns were given weight by Cormann's former boss Malcolm Turnbull, who tried, unsuccessfully, to lobby against him. Despite being a rank outsider initially, Cormann managed to beat a field of 10 candidates, scraping past Swede Cecilia Malmstrom, who had all the right sort of European credentials, in the final round. Spurred by a frenetic burst of global lobbying by the then-Morrison government, Cormann went one better than one-time wannabe United Nations boss Kevin Rudd to become the first Australian politician to lead a major international organisation. There was no such dissent against Cormann getting a second term, with member states reaching a consensus and the Trump administration firmly backing him. Looking back over the yearbook of former high-profile Liberals from the last term, Cormann, a steady backroom operator who loved Senate estimates and won a degree of begrudging respect from the other side of the political aisle, wasn't who we'd have picked to land the biggest global profile after politics. Loading Julie Bishop, with the red shoes and the rizz, is merely a UN special envoy to Myanmar. Turnbull spends plenty of time in New York, but his biggest recent stepping out on the world stage was joining adult entertainment star Stormy Daniels for the US presidential election night coverage on UK network Channel 4.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
South Korea faces risks from US tariff due to reliance on exports, manufacturing
South Korea has the second-highest share of manufacturing in its gross domestic product (GDP) among major economies, data showed on Sunday, underscoring its vulnerability to the aggressive tariff measures by the United States. The manufacturing sector accounted for 27.6 per cent of South Korea's GDP in 2023, far higher than the average 15.8 per cent of the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the National Assembly Budget Office (NABO). It ranked second among OECD member countries, following Ireland at 31 per cent. By comparison, Germany recorded 20.1 per cent and Japan 20.7 per cent. "While most advanced economies are seeing an increasing share of the service sector, South Korea continues to maintain a relatively high level of manufacturing output," the office said. "Given the size of its economy, South Korea is still regarded as a country with a relatively high dependence on manufacturing." The manufacturing sector remains the backbone of the Korean economy, with key industries, including semiconductors, rechargeable batteries, shipbuilding and automobiles, maintaining global competitiveness. Driven by its manufacturing-based economy, South Korea remains highly dependent on exports as a key growth engine. As of 2024, exports accounted for 44.4 per cent of the nation's GDP, compared with the OECD average of 30 per cent. Among the Group of Seven (G7) nations, Germany posted the highest export-to-GDP ratio at 41.8 per cent, followed by France with 33.9 per cent, Italy with 32.7 per cent and Canada with 32.4 per cent. The US recorded 10.9 per cent. South Korea's export dependence on the US stood at 18.8 per cent in 2024, Yonhap news agency reported. Given the country's high manufacturing ratio and export reliance on the US, the envisioned reciprocal tariffs are feared to deliver a major economic blow. Last-minute negotiations are under way between Seoul and Washington, as the Donald Trump administration has warned that South Korea will face a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff unless a deal is reached before August 1. "If the proposed reciprocal tariffs take effect, the Korean economy could suffer a significant impact," said Yang Joon-seok, an economics professor at the Catholic University of Korea. "We should leverage our strengths in key sectors, such as shipbuilding and semiconductors, during the negotiations," he added.
Observer
21-07-2025
- General
- Observer
Summer breaks enhance teachers' well-being
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, 2025), teacher burnout is at an all-time high; therefore, the well-being of educators has become a critical area of concern in education systems worldwide. While summer breaks are traditionally seen as 'time off', they can be reframed as strategic opportunities for emotional, cognitive and professional renewal. However, there is limited academic research specifically on how teachers use summer for self-care, growth and sustained well-being. In recent years, the intensification of curriculum demands, the increase in administrative responsibilities and rapid technological advancements have significantly compounded the complexity of the teaching profession. Consequently, teaching is now widely recognised as one of the most emotionally taxing occupations, frequently leading to elevated levels of stress, professional burnout and workforce attrition. According to a global survey, a substantial proportion of teachers report experiencing emotional exhaustion and a lack of sufficient opportunities for personal recovery throughout the academic year. Although summer breaks are commonly perceived as a passive respite from professional duties, they offer a valuable opportunity for educators to engage in deliberate and structured well-being practices. Although relatively under-researched, summer breaks have been increasingly recognised for their potential to function similarly to sabbaticals, offering educators critical opportunities for psychological renewal. Research in educational psychology indicates that structured breaks — those combining restorative and enriching activities — can enhance emotional regulation and professional efficacy. Additional, summer breaks may serve as an optimal period for mitigating teacher burnout, which is characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and diminished personal accomplishment. Empirical studies have consistently linked such burnout to excessive workloads, escalating administrative demands and persistent classroom challenges. To address these issues, evidence-based strategies grounded in occupational stress theory and resilience research have been proposed, emphasising psychological detachment from work — such as disengaging from school-related communication — as essential to emotional recovery. Additional recommendations include maintaining regular sleep patterns, participating in low-intensity physical activities such as walking or yoga and engaging with restorative natural environments. Moreover, re-establishing a personal identity beyond the professional role has been advocated as a means of combating emotional fatigue. This process may involve creative pursuits and volunteerism outside the education sector, both of which can foster intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being. Aligned with Stress Recovery Theory, such recovery experiences — characterised by rest, mental detachment, autonomy and mastery — are associated with reduced stress and improved overall life satisfaction. To conclude, summer break is regarded as a critical period for the implementation of practical strategies. Intentions should be set at the outset through reflective consideration of individual needs, such as rest, personal growth, social connection, or creative engagement.
The Advertiser
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Australia scores well in managing chronic health issues
Australia has a world-class health system for dealing with chronic conditions, a new survey has found. The country was one of the top five performers in the world when it comes to the quality of care, coordination of care, person-centred care and physical health. The findings were part of the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) inaugural Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys. The Paris-based body collected data from 107,000 patients and 1800 primary care practices across 19 countries, including Australia. Achieving such high satisfaction in the personal care provided by GPs showed a world-class health system at work, The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Clinical Director Liz Marles said. Australia performed better than or close to the OECD average across all 10 areas measured in the survey. Dr Marles pointed to how 97 per cent of Australian patients surveyed, who had a single GP for three to five years, rated their care positively describing it as an "amazing result." "We know that where a person is able to establish a good relationship with a GP over the long term, they get much better outcomes and that leads to better trust in the system as a whole," she told AAP. "If you see the same GP over a period of time, they get to know you as a person, get to know your preferences, understand your context and they know what's going on in your life," the practising Sydney GP said. Nearly 2400 Australian patients aged 45 years and above, suffering from at least one chronic condition, and who visited a GP in the last six months gave feedback on their experiences and health outcomes for the survey. The most common chronic conditions reported included high blood pressure, arthritis or ongoing back and joint pain, depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, breathing and heart conditions. When it came to mental health, patients seeing their GPs were less than positive with Australia's ranking dipping to 13th out of 19. Dr Marles said the other health measures of the survey where Australia could have performed better were still close to the OECD averages but that did not prevent GPs and policymakers from making care more accessible. She pointed to geographical accessibility and financial considerations as presenting barriers to patients. "Our goal is to help patients who have chronic conditions not only survive but to thrive," Dr Marles said. The burden of chronic disease across the country is high, with one in two Australians having at least one chronic condition. An eye-watering $82 billion was spent on treating chronic diseases in 2022/23. Australia has a world-class health system for dealing with chronic conditions, a new survey has found. The country was one of the top five performers in the world when it comes to the quality of care, coordination of care, person-centred care and physical health. The findings were part of the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) inaugural Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys. The Paris-based body collected data from 107,000 patients and 1800 primary care practices across 19 countries, including Australia. Achieving such high satisfaction in the personal care provided by GPs showed a world-class health system at work, The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Clinical Director Liz Marles said. Australia performed better than or close to the OECD average across all 10 areas measured in the survey. Dr Marles pointed to how 97 per cent of Australian patients surveyed, who had a single GP for three to five years, rated their care positively describing it as an "amazing result." "We know that where a person is able to establish a good relationship with a GP over the long term, they get much better outcomes and that leads to better trust in the system as a whole," she told AAP. "If you see the same GP over a period of time, they get to know you as a person, get to know your preferences, understand your context and they know what's going on in your life," the practising Sydney GP said. Nearly 2400 Australian patients aged 45 years and above, suffering from at least one chronic condition, and who visited a GP in the last six months gave feedback on their experiences and health outcomes for the survey. The most common chronic conditions reported included high blood pressure, arthritis or ongoing back and joint pain, depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, breathing and heart conditions. When it came to mental health, patients seeing their GPs were less than positive with Australia's ranking dipping to 13th out of 19. Dr Marles said the other health measures of the survey where Australia could have performed better were still close to the OECD averages but that did not prevent GPs and policymakers from making care more accessible. She pointed to geographical accessibility and financial considerations as presenting barriers to patients. "Our goal is to help patients who have chronic conditions not only survive but to thrive," Dr Marles said. The burden of chronic disease across the country is high, with one in two Australians having at least one chronic condition. An eye-watering $82 billion was spent on treating chronic diseases in 2022/23. Australia has a world-class health system for dealing with chronic conditions, a new survey has found. The country was one of the top five performers in the world when it comes to the quality of care, coordination of care, person-centred care and physical health. The findings were part of the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) inaugural Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys. The Paris-based body collected data from 107,000 patients and 1800 primary care practices across 19 countries, including Australia. Achieving such high satisfaction in the personal care provided by GPs showed a world-class health system at work, The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Clinical Director Liz Marles said. Australia performed better than or close to the OECD average across all 10 areas measured in the survey. Dr Marles pointed to how 97 per cent of Australian patients surveyed, who had a single GP for three to five years, rated their care positively describing it as an "amazing result." "We know that where a person is able to establish a good relationship with a GP over the long term, they get much better outcomes and that leads to better trust in the system as a whole," she told AAP. "If you see the same GP over a period of time, they get to know you as a person, get to know your preferences, understand your context and they know what's going on in your life," the practising Sydney GP said. Nearly 2400 Australian patients aged 45 years and above, suffering from at least one chronic condition, and who visited a GP in the last six months gave feedback on their experiences and health outcomes for the survey. The most common chronic conditions reported included high blood pressure, arthritis or ongoing back and joint pain, depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, breathing and heart conditions. When it came to mental health, patients seeing their GPs were less than positive with Australia's ranking dipping to 13th out of 19. Dr Marles said the other health measures of the survey where Australia could have performed better were still close to the OECD averages but that did not prevent GPs and policymakers from making care more accessible. She pointed to geographical accessibility and financial considerations as presenting barriers to patients. "Our goal is to help patients who have chronic conditions not only survive but to thrive," Dr Marles said. The burden of chronic disease across the country is high, with one in two Australians having at least one chronic condition. An eye-watering $82 billion was spent on treating chronic diseases in 2022/23. Australia has a world-class health system for dealing with chronic conditions, a new survey has found. The country was one of the top five performers in the world when it comes to the quality of care, coordination of care, person-centred care and physical health. The findings were part of the the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) inaugural Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys. The Paris-based body collected data from 107,000 patients and 1800 primary care practices across 19 countries, including Australia. Achieving such high satisfaction in the personal care provided by GPs showed a world-class health system at work, The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's Clinical Director Liz Marles said. Australia performed better than or close to the OECD average across all 10 areas measured in the survey. Dr Marles pointed to how 97 per cent of Australian patients surveyed, who had a single GP for three to five years, rated their care positively describing it as an "amazing result." "We know that where a person is able to establish a good relationship with a GP over the long term, they get much better outcomes and that leads to better trust in the system as a whole," she told AAP. "If you see the same GP over a period of time, they get to know you as a person, get to know your preferences, understand your context and they know what's going on in your life," the practising Sydney GP said. Nearly 2400 Australian patients aged 45 years and above, suffering from at least one chronic condition, and who visited a GP in the last six months gave feedback on their experiences and health outcomes for the survey. The most common chronic conditions reported included high blood pressure, arthritis or ongoing back and joint pain, depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, breathing and heart conditions. When it came to mental health, patients seeing their GPs were less than positive with Australia's ranking dipping to 13th out of 19. Dr Marles said the other health measures of the survey where Australia could have performed better were still close to the OECD averages but that did not prevent GPs and policymakers from making care more accessible. She pointed to geographical accessibility and financial considerations as presenting barriers to patients. "Our goal is to help patients who have chronic conditions not only survive but to thrive," Dr Marles said. The burden of chronic disease across the country is high, with one in two Australians having at least one chronic condition. An eye-watering $82 billion was spent on treating chronic diseases in 2022/23.
Bangkok Post
17-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
State firms warned of reform ahead of OECD membership
Thailand's state enterprises are being told to prepare for alignment with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) standards, particularly in the area of fair competition. According to a source from the Finance Ministry who requested anonymity, Thailand is in the process of preparing agreements to join the OECD, and government agencies as well as state enterprises will need to adapt to various OECD standards. Regarding the country's state enterprises, the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) is now in the process of preparing agreements in accordance with OECD standards, including fair bidding practices using market prices. In some cases, where a subsidiary of a state enterprise bids to provide services to its parent company, it must use market-based pricing to ensure fair competition. In addition, the OECD has raised questions about the various forms of state enterprises in the country. These include those established under specific legislation with legal entity status, such as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand; those that take the form of a limited company or public company, such as PTT; and those established as public organisations, such as the National Science and Technology Development Agency. The source said the OECD prefers a single format -- specifically, a limited company -- which may not align with the current management structure of Thai state enterprises and could affect the status and benefits of employees in certain organisations. As for the progress of Thailand's accession to the OECD, Thai agencies are currently preparing an initial memorandum, which is expected to be submitted to the OECD by December this year. Various Thai agencies are in negotiations with the OECD to draft agreements in different areas. Notably, from June 23–25, officials from the National Economic and Social Development Council participated in a Strategic Foresight workshop with OECD experts. The workshop aimed to analyse key global change signals during the period covered by Thailand's 14th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2028–2032). This is an important part of systematically analysing trends and signals of high volatility and uncertainty, to ensure the 14th plan will be flexible and robust enough to accommodate future changes. The OECD was founded in 1961 by developed countries. Fifty years on, its membership has expanded geographically to include Latin America, along with Asia and the Pacific. There are only two members from Asia -- Japan and South Korea -- though Indonesia is in the process of applying for membership. Within the Asean bloc, none are members of the OECD. Thailand last year submitted a letter of intent expressing its commitment to join the bloc to the OECD secretary-general, but the approval process is lengthy.
