Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - American business

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provides a forum for discussion and development of public-sector and corporate policy making. The OECD consists of 30 member countries and maintains relationships with other countries and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) involved in social and economic policies. Best known for its economics publications and statistics including its country surveys, the OECD is involved in a wide array of international development issues from price transparency to pesticides. The OECD produces internationally agreed decisions and recommendations, which are then utilized by policy makers in individual countries. OECD recommendations reduce variations in economic and government policies among member countries and provide a basis for sound government decision making in EMERGING MARKETS without resources to individually analyze and evaluate issues. OECD guidelines are available for issues such as SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, food safety, energy, biotechnology, electronic commerce, health, and even money laundering. While the WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION focuses on reductions in TRADE BARRIERS, the OECD focuses on issues that facilitate or constrain social and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. The OECD superseded the Organization for European Economic Co-operation, which was formed after World War II to administer U.S. and Canadian aid for Europe under the MARSHALL PLAN. For most of its existence, the OECD focused on ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY and market systems among member countries. More recently OECD efforts have expanded to include support for countries transitioning from centrally planned to market economies and developing countries in Asia and Latin America. Critics of OECD view the organization as an extension of western capitalist interests. Supporters argue the organization is a forum for dialogue and debate regarding the impact of GLOBALIZATION.