Working towards Better Policies for Better Lives, the OECD is a multilateral platform that delivers data, analyses, forecasts and public policy recommendations to both member and partner countries. It establishes standards and best practice to promote fair competition in the global economy, facilitate international exchange and enhance citizens' well-being. With extensive expertise spanning finance, tax, trade, investment, development, digitalisation, climate, environment, energy and other fields, the OECD helps governments find effective solutions to global challenges.
What is the OECD?
- Established in 1961
- Headquartered in Paris
- 38 member countries
- Annual budget of EUR 450 million
- Secretariat staff of 4,000
- 500 publications each year
- Over 270 legal instruments
- Over 1,300 databases in 16 policy areas
What does the OECD do?
The OECD helps its member and partner countries to:
- Support sustainable economic growth
- Boost employment
- Raise living standards
- Maintain financial stability
- Assist other countries in developing their economies
- Gather reliable data
- Establish recognised standards
- Contribute to world trade growth and ensure fair competition
How does the OECD work?
Member governments meet regularly in committees to:
- Share experiences (peer review)
- Find ways to address shared concerns
- Identify best practice
- Develop and promote international standards
- Coordinate their national and international policies
OECD external relations
Beyond its members, the OECD works with a wide range of countries through various programmes:
- Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Indonesia, Peru, Romania and Thailand have started the OECD accession process. Candidate countries must meet the OECD's demanding standards to become members.
- The Country Programmes support nations' development through targeted projects on specific topics such as governance, taxation or the environment. Ongoing country programmes cover Egypt, Mauritius, Paraguay, Thailand and Ukraine.
- The OECD works with numerous countries through its regional programmes and approaches, helping to implement reforms and enabling partners to adopt its standards. Regional initiatives cover Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, South East Europe, and the Middle East & North Africa.
- As emerging economies, South Africa, Brazil, China, India and Indonesia are key partners of the OECD, participating in its analyses and exchanges.
- The OECD works closely with other international organisations (UN, G7, G20, APEC, ASEAN).
- The OECD organises global forums, bringing together government officials and experts, academics, civil society and private sector representatives from both member and partner countries to discuss key issues (taxation, anti-corruption, digitalisation and AI, trade, investment, public governance, etc.).
What are the benefits of OECD membership for Switzerland?
- International platform for defending Swiss interests
- Opportunity to help shape international standards
- Peer learning
- Support for necessary but politically challenging structural reforms
- Biennial economic studies
- Common areas of interest: competition, taxation, development, energy, environment, health, trade, investment and innovation
- Active participation in multilateral initiatives (Global Minimum Tax, Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches, Blue Dot Network, Conference on Medical Supply Chains, etc.).
Last modification 16.05.2025
