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Committee Opinion | Doc. 13040 | 02 October 2012
The activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2011-2012
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)1. The Committee on Social Affairs,
Health and Sustainable Development broadly welcomes the report on the
activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) in 2011-2012, prepared by Mr Jean-Marie Bockel on behalf
of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy. Further to
the Parliamentary Assembly’s reform in 2011, the report in question
reflects the transfer of reporting responsibility to the latter
committee and its attempt to concentrate more on the political evaluation
of the OECD’s work, by exploring more closely the national and institutional
responses to the eurozone crisis and co-operation with countries
in South and South-East Mediterranean region.
2. The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
notes that the report contains a detailed description of the current
economic situation and outlook for development in the OECD countries, mainly
based on the OECD’s own analysis and views. For some issues, such
as on the prospects for a global financial transactions tax and
on the role of rating agencies, reference to other sources could
have been useful.
3. The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
appreciates the fact that the draft resolution refers to its work
concerning the effects of the financial and economic crisis on young
people, on local and regional authorities and on social rights.
As the committee’s report on “Restoring social justice through a
tax on financial transactions” is being debated by the Assembly
during the same part-session as the report on the OECD activities,
it could be referred to, as well as earlier Assembly proposals on
this matter. The issue was notably raised in Assembly Resolution 1833 (2011) on the OECD's activities in 2010-2011, Resolution 1888 (2012) on the crisis of democracy and the role of the State
in today’s Europe and Resolution 1884
(2012) “Austerity measures – a danger for democracy and social
rights”. Such a reference would echo the Assembly’s earlier position
on this issue and ensure a coherent stand in recommending stronger
political action by member States in this respect.
4. The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
presents several amendments to the draft resolution intended to
make some factual corrections and with a view to helping make the
report more comprehensive.
B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 6, replace the last sentence with the following:
“The enlarged Assembly believes that it is necessary to review national taxation systems, better target support programmes for the most vulnerable population groups and pursue reforms aimed at reducing labour market segmentation and ensuring more jobs of higher quality.”
Explanatory note: the amendment lays emphasis on the enlarged Assembly’s support for national reforms of taxation, welfare systems and labour markets.
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 6, insert the following paragraph:
“The enlarged Assembly is concerned about continued tax evasion and tax avoidance that deprive State budgets of essential revenue. Referring to the Assembly’s Resolution 1881 (2012) and the report on promoting an appropriate policy on tax havens, the enlarged Assembly urges the OECD to intensify its work in these areas and to seek synergies with relevant international partners, notably the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, in order to help States eliminate harmful tax practices, narrow the gap between the taxation of income from capital and from work, and improve regulation of the financial sector so as to better manage international capital flows.”
Explanatory note: this proposal naturally stems from the Assembly’s ongoing work on tax justice and its co-operation with the OECD on tax-related and regulatory challenges and refers to previously adopted texts.
Amendment C (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 7, insert the following paragraph:
“In the light of current demographic trends and repercussions from the financial crisis, notably in Europe, there is an urgent need to enhance the sustainability of pension systems and the adequacy of pension levels in many countries, not least as a result of austerity measures that have escalated social inequalities. Referring to the Assembly’s Resolution 1882 (2012) and Recommendation 2000 (2012) on decent pensions for all, the enlarged Assembly calls for the OECD and the Council of Europe to work together with a view to promoting good practices in this field and preparing practical instruments (such as guidelines) for advising member States in their ongoing or forthcoming pension system reforms.”
Explanatory note: the amendment underscores the pertinence of adjustments to national pension systems and pleads for more collaboration between the Council of Europe and the OECD in this field.
C. Explanatory memorandum by Mr Braun, rapporteur for opinion
(open)1. The lingering financial and economic crises expose growing inequalities in society and shortcomings in socio-economic policies
1. The report of the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy presents an overview of development trends
in the OECD countries, policy responses to crisis-induced problems
and co-operation with countries in the South and South-East Mediterranean
region. As the rapporteur for opinion on behalf of the Committee
on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, I wish to
concentrate more on the social and other implications of growing
income and wealth inequalities in society.
2. The OECD findings show that economic stagnation, or recession
in some countries, has not only depressed labour markets, causing
a persistent jump in unemployment, in particular long-term unemployment, but
has also led to policy measures resulting in drastic cuts in social
expenditure and yawning inequalities in income and wealth. At the
same time, as the report admits, “Rising inequality began long before
the financial recession, but the slackening of growth has heightened
its political resonance”. Both OECD studies and other research sources 
find
widening welfare gaps within most European countries and reveal
that tax and welfare systems have become less redistributive with
the onset of globalisation and financial liberalisation from the
mid-1990s. In fact, a widespread trend of more favourable taxation
on capital gains versus income from work accentuated inequalities
even in the most egalitarian countries.
find
widening welfare gaps within most European countries and reveal
that tax and welfare systems have become less redistributive with
the onset of globalisation and financial liberalisation from the
mid-1990s. In fact, a widespread trend of more favourable taxation
on capital gains versus income from work accentuated inequalities
even in the most egalitarian countries.3. The work of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable
Development, together
with other research sources, indicates that such inequalities damage
the socio-economic cohesion of society and tend to undermine not
only social but also economic development and political stability.
More unequal societies experience more poverty (especially among
the vulnerable population such as children, the elderly, the long-term
unemployed, persons with health impairment or disability), poorer
physical and mental health, higher rates of violence, lower rates
of educational attainment, a rise in extremist and populist political
movements, shrinking political participation levels and a weakening
of the middle-class social base that underpins liberal democracy. This lowers the population’s capacity to
adapt to structural adjustments, embrace changes in labour markets
and support reform, thus eroding a country’s competitiveness and
its population’s quality of life even further. Government transfers
through taxation and social welfare systems continue to play the
most important protective role for low-income households.
together
with other research sources, indicates that such inequalities damage
the socio-economic cohesion of society and tend to undermine not
only social but also economic development and political stability.
More unequal societies experience more poverty (especially among
the vulnerable population such as children, the elderly, the long-term
unemployed, persons with health impairment or disability), poorer
physical and mental health, higher rates of violence, lower rates
of educational attainment, a rise in extremist and populist political
movements, shrinking political participation levels and a weakening
of the middle-class social base that underpins liberal democracy. This lowers the population’s capacity to
adapt to structural adjustments, embrace changes in labour markets
and support reform, thus eroding a country’s competitiveness and
its population’s quality of life even further. Government transfers
through taxation and social welfare systems continue to play the
most important protective role for low-income households.4. Moreover, many experts maintain that official statistics on
inequality largely underestimate the effect of “hidden assets” kept
by the world’s richest individuals and companies in offshore financial
centres and the massive scale of corporate tax avoidance and evasion.
Both phenomena penalise States’ budgets and ordinary tax payers.
In June 2012, the European Commission issued a Communication pleading
for stronger measures to tackle tax evasion and avoidance in the
light of estimates that the shadow economy represented on average
almost one-fifth of gross domestic product (GDP) across the European
Union alone or about €2 trillion in total. From earlier studies
in this Assembly we know that the underground economy in the central
and eastern parts of Europe is even more deep-rooted and widespread. This
clearly speaks of the need to tackle – urgently and in a more comprehensive
manner – the problem of tax cheating and regulatory havens that subsist
within European States and many other countries. The
Assembly should therefore encourage the OECD to persevere with its
work in this field.
pleading
for stronger measures to tackle tax evasion and avoidance in the
light of estimates that the shadow economy represented on average
almost one-fifth of gross domestic product (GDP) across the European
Union alone or about €2 trillion in total. From earlier studies
in this Assembly we know that the underground economy in the central
and eastern parts of Europe is even more deep-rooted and widespread. This
clearly speaks of the need to tackle – urgently and in a more comprehensive
manner – the problem of tax cheating and regulatory havens that subsist
within European States and many other countries. The
Assembly should therefore encourage the OECD to persevere with its
work in this field.5. In this context, we should also refer to the report prepared
by Ms Naghdalyan on “Restoring social justice through a tax on financial
transactions” (Doc. 13017) which calls into question the persistence of lower
taxation on income from capital than that on income from work. Similarly,
various scholarly studies suggest that higher taxation on capital
does not necessarily stifle growth as conventional economists argue,
but rather that tax rates on capital as high as or even higher than
those on labour are susceptible of helping tangibly reduce income
and wealth inequality in society.
6. An additional concern against the background of demographic
trends and repercussions from the financial crisis, notably in Europe,
is the sustainability of pension systems over the long term and
the inadequacy of pension levels in many countries, not least as
a result of austerity measures that have escalated social inequalities.
Referring to the Assembly’s Resolution
1882 (2012) and Recommendation
2000 (2012) on decent pensions for all, I consider that there is
a scope for the Council of Europe and
the OECD to work together with a view to promoting good practices
in this field and preparing practical instruments (such as guidelines)
for guiding member States in their ongoing or forthcoming pension
system reforms.
and
the OECD to work together with a view to promoting good practices
in this field and preparing practical instruments (such as guidelines)
for guiding member States in their ongoing or forthcoming pension
system reforms.7. Furthermore, a major international organisation – the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) – is currently revising its long-standing position
on international capital controls and
admits that “capital flow management measures” are acceptable on
the way to liberalisation and “in or near financial crises”. This
important message has yet to reach the ears of regulators, politicians
and decision-makers. It could also be further studied by the OECD
with a view to assessing the effects of financial deregulation and
the under-taxation of financial services and products on economic
development in general and social welfare systems in particular.
and
admits that “capital flow management measures” are acceptable on
the way to liberalisation and “in or near financial crises”. This
important message has yet to reach the ears of regulators, politicians
and decision-makers. It could also be further studied by the OECD
with a view to assessing the effects of financial deregulation and
the under-taxation of financial services and products on economic
development in general and social welfare systems in particular.2. Responsibility of policy makers for repairing faults and cracks to pave the way to more broadly shared prosperity
8. I ought to stress a very pertinent
recommendation by the OECD – as highlighted in Mr Bockel’s report
– that it is particularly important not to decrease unemployment
benefits, job protection and active pro-employment policies in times
of economic stability and growth so as to avoid a backlash on development. According
to the OECD, tax reforms aiming to shift the tax burden from labour
to consumption or environmentally harmful activities can rapidly
improve the employment situation, help support much needed investment
in the real economy and thus generate more broadly shared welfare
gains across all society. However, this calls for bold policy moves
to improve taxation and regulatory mechanisms. Building on public debate
and institutional research, policy makers have the responsibility
to draw lessons from the lingering crises and past mistakes with
a view to paving the way to sustainable recovery and quality growth.
9. A successful conclusion and rapid entry into force of the
Protocol amending the joint Council of Europe/OECD Convention on
Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (ETS No. 127) and
fruitful collaboration between the Parliamentary Assembly and the
European Commission on taxation challenges, advocate further close
co-operation between these institutions towards proposing concrete
ways of taxation reform in order to better combine economic and
social development. The European Commission considers that the OECD-driven Global
Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes
does not sufficiently deal with the issue of “fair tax competition”
which the European Union strongly supports via its Code of Conduct
for business taxation. I believe that the two organisations should
seek common understanding and promote this concept, as well as co-ordinate
action to fight tax avoidance and evasion, in particular by helping
States eliminate harmful tax practices and improve regulatory mechanisms.
10. In the light of the earlier work of the Assembly committees
and debates in the Assembly, as well as the forthcoming debate on
“Restoring social justice through a tax on financial transactions”
during the Assembly’s 4th part-session of 2012, the draft resolution
on the OECD activities could encourage the OECD to further explore
the gist of the European Commission and European Parliament proposals
on the financial transactions tax, as well as the need to narrow
the gap between the taxation of income from capital and from work
and a call for more research on the utility of capital controls.
11. I would also like to offer a word of caution in assessing
prospects for growth improvements worldwide in 2013. In OECD projections,
global growth expectations appear to be essentially driven by the
performance of major emerging economies. Yet serious doubts subsist
about the veracity of figures concerning China and there is a high
risk of overheating in the Chinese and Indian economies. These
uncertainties and risks, together with persisting financial troubles
in the United States and the eurozone, should compel politicians
of these countries to push for stronger measures to improve regulation
of financial markets and to invest in quality development by better
fructifying social capital and tapping the potential for green growth.
So indeed, as the OECD advocates, policies must “go social” and
“go green” – in addition to going institutional and structural.
These
uncertainties and risks, together with persisting financial troubles
in the United States and the eurozone, should compel politicians
of these countries to push for stronger measures to improve regulation
of financial markets and to invest in quality development by better
fructifying social capital and tapping the potential for green growth.
So indeed, as the OECD advocates, policies must “go social” and
“go green” – in addition to going institutional and structural.