For screening chemicals possessing endocrine disrupting potencies, the uterotrophic assay has been placed in a higher level in the OECD testing framework than the ER binding assay to detect ER-mediated activities. However, there are no studies that can demonstrate a clear relationship between these assays. In order to clarify the relationship between the in vitro ER binding and in vivo uterotro...

Much like waiting times for health services, the shortage of physicians and other health professionals poses a major health policy issue in many OECD countries. In this short commentary, I present indications that in Israel's periphery, the demand for advanced health services exceeds supply. This gap creates inequality in waiting times "across" geographical areas in the public sector and, moreo...

EMU driven interest rate convergence has led to a significant reduction of borrowing costs for some European governments in the second half of the nineties. The paper deals with the possible consequences for deficit behaviour. Although the impact of interest rates on deficits is a crucial element of the market discipline hypothesis it has widely been neglected in the literature. In the theoreti...

This paper analyzes the impact of population aging on health care expenditures in Korea. Examination of the age-expenditure profile reveals that health care resources are allocated more for the older cohort of population over time, suggesting significant growth of health care expenditures due to population aging. We contend, however, that population aging is considered as a parameter rather tha...

Part II of this report is structured in six thematic chapters. Each chapter starts with a summary of main findings from the local case study areas by the OECD. In the following paper, both theoretical and practical aspects of policy action are discussed in light of new policy approaches and options. References are made to good practice initiatives in East Germany and other regions in OECD membe...

Since the IEA's Third International Mathematics and Science Study, one of the major objectives of international surveys in education has been to report trends in achievement. The names of the two current IEA surveys reflect this growing interest: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). Similarly a central concer...

We consider the potential importance of labour market efficiency for aggregate growth. The idea is that efficient labour markets move workers more quickly from low to high productivity sites, thereby raising aggregate productivity growth. We define a measure of labour market efficiency as a structural parameter from a matching function. Using labour market data on 15 OECD countries, we estimate...

Two models where productivity growth is caused by spillovers from R&D are analysed using a sample of nine manufacturing industries in six large OECD-countries between 1979 and 1991. The first model is based on traditional productivity analysis where growth in R&D stocks causes productivity growth. The second model is based on the endogenous growth literature where the level of R&D expenditures ...

In response to this need, the OECD Directorate for Education devotes a major effort to the development and analysis of quantitative, internationally comparable indicators, which are publishes annually in Education at a Glance. These indicators enable educational policy makers and practitioners alike to see their education systems in the light of other countries’ performances and, together with ...