Nick Bridge » Ambassador to the OECD

My first video blog gives an insight into what the OECD does and the role of the UK Delegation. Have a look to find out a bit more about our top priorities as a Delegation, and how we’re working with the OECD.   The UK and the OECD – an introduction Transcript of video blog I’m Nick Bridge, the British Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), based … Read more »An introduction to the UK and the OECD

This month in the UK we launched the ‘What Works’ Network – new centres of evidence to help ensure better decisions across £200 billion of public service spending. It’s the first time a government has set up such a model. The video launch at NESTA is well worth a look. The Network consists of two existing centres of excellence – the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the … Read more »Doing What Works – the Data Revolution

The Prime Minister’s speech at Davos, and the Chancellor’s article in yesterday’s Observer, describe how the UK is working with OECD experts to push reform of the international tax system – to reduce tax base erosion and the shifting of profits by global corporations. I remember being struck by this issue at an Economic Club lunch in Washington D.C. back in March 2011. The guest speaker was GE CEO Jeff Immelt, and there … Read more »A taxing issue…

Today saw the launch of a very significant new initiative by the OECD and WTO, called Trade in Value Added, or TiVA. Why is it attracting so much attention? Don’t we already have statistics on trade? We do, but the the way we’ve looked at trade statistics for years no longer necessarily reflects the way we produce and exchange things today. A product isn’t just made in one country and … Read more »Transforming our Understanding of Trade

 Along with the OECD Secretariat, and other member state representatives, I’ve been busy finalising 2013 and 2014 OECD work priorities in the last few days (more on those priorities in the New Year – lots of exciting work coming on stream in areas of UK interest).  But I did want to quickly go back and reflect on a visit to Paris a few days ago by two Welsh Ministers – Leighton Andrews … Read more »Education – “learn from the best”

The International Energy Agency, a sister organisation to the OECD, has been doing some of the world’s leading energy analysis for years, much of it captured in its renowned annual World Energy Outlook (WEO) publication. In recent years its in-depth country studies of Chinese, Indian and Russian energy sectors have been important new contributions to our understanding of global energy markets. The IEA’s latest success story is its analysis of … Read more »Ground Breaking IEA Iraq Study

Dr O’Dell fell down a well, And broke his collarbone. But doctors should attend the sick, And leave the well alone.   (Indian-born) Spike Milligan   I was in Delhi last week for the “World Forum on Measuring Progress and Wellbeing” organised by the OECD and the Indian Government. Participants included Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Joe Stiglitz, Jeffrey Sachs, Richard Layard and a statistically significant sample of Government Chief Statisticians, including the UK’s Jil Matheson. Here’s … Read more »Measuring Wellbeing – OECD & Indian government host World Forum

Gareth Ward’s blog about Russia joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) caught my eye last week. It brought back fond memories of working on economic and trade issues as a diplomat in Beijing in 2001, when it was China who was joining the WTO. I remember how WTO accession was a lightning rod for China’s reform programme and a significant step, symbolically, economically and politically. The Chinese leadership knew it would … Read more »Russia and the OECD