Better Life Initiative: Your Better Life Index

How do you define a better life? What matters most to you – good schools, safe streets or something else?

The OECD Better Life Initiative proposes an interactive tool, Your Better Life Index, which enables you to rate your country on the things you feel make for a better life.

The Index allows citizens to compare well-being across 34 countries, based on 11 dimensions the OECD has identified as essential, in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life:

housing, income, jobs, community, education,environment, governance, health, life satisfaction, safety, work-life balance.

The OECD is NOT deciding what makes for better lives. YOU decide for yourself.

The Index currently covers the 34 member countries of the OECD.

The Index allows you to put different weights on each of the topics, and therefore to decide for yourself what contributes most to well-being.

Try the Index!

World Economic Outlook : 2011

The World Economic Outlook (WEO) presents the IMF staff’s analysis and projections of economic developments at the global level, in major country groups (classified by region, stage of development, etc.), and in many individual countries. It focuses on major economic policy issues as well as on the analysis of economic developments and prospects. It is usually prepared twice a year, as documentation for meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, and forms the main instrument of the IMF’s global surveillance activities.

Assumptions and Conventions

Preface

Foreword

Executive Summary

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Attractiveness for Innovation: Location Factors for International Investment

Attractiveness for investment in innovation is high on the policy agenda in many countries as innovation is a key factor of growth and competitiveness in OECD countries. Virtually all governments are keen to attract international investment by multinational enterprises (MNEs) as a means to promote growth and employment, create new jobs and bring in new technologies.

While all countries and regions have some policy measures in place that are aimed at increasing their attractiveness for innovation, it is less clear if these policies are effective.

This report analyses the current trends in international investment in innovation and the attractiveness policies already implemented. These are often based on the more traditional instruments for attracting international investment. The book also explores in more detail the role of investment incentives that governments tend to give to international investors: their rationale, their impact and their usefulness.

The evidence presented in this report raises clear policy issues and questions existing policies. A number of policy principles are formulated to guide policy makers.

Its an OECD publication.

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World Development Report 2011

The World Development Report 2011: Conflict, Security, and Development examines the changing nature of violence in the 21st century, and underlines the negative impact of repeated cycles of violence on a country or region’s development prospects. Preventing violence and building peaceful states that respond to the aspirations of their citizens requires strong leadership and concerted national and international efforts. The Report is based on new research, case studies and extensive consultations with leaders and development practitioners throughout the world.

Overview (multilingual)

English,  Arabic, Chinese,  French,  Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish

Complete Report

Complete Report as on File (File as of April 11, 2011)

Report Synopsis (multilingual)

English,  Arabic,  Chinese,  French,  Portuguese,  Russian, and  Spanish

Facts and Figures (multilingual)

English,  Arabic,  Chinese,  French,  Portuguese,  Russian, and  Spanish