http://www.oecd.org/Forum2000/index1.htm

Partnerships in the New Economy

First International Conference and Knowledge
Fair 26-28 June 2000, CNIT Paris

**WHAT IS FORUM 2000?**

OECD Forum 2000, a major open international conference
and Knowledge Fair will be held for the first time in
conjunction with the 2000 Ministerial Meeting. The Forum
will impart and share information, improve communication
and foster a climate of enlightened policy making in the
global public interest. It comprises two integral elements:

Major International Open Conference
Knowledge Fair

**WHO SHOULD ATTEND?**

OECD Forum 2000 will deliver insights and information of
interest to all members of the international public policy
community, including business, labour and
non-governmental organisations. Donald J. Johnston,
Secretary-General of the OECD, with the Chairman of the
OECD Ministerial will address the Forum participants in an
opening session.

Delegates will include:

National and regional government representatives
Senior economists
CEOs and senior business representatives from the
private sector
Representatives from NGOs
Policy and research organisations, and academics.

**THE KNOWLEDGE FAIR**

An important and integral part of Forum 2000, the
Knowledge Fair, will run in parallel to the Conference,
offering delegates unique opportunities to explore exhibits
and network with leading organisations and companies
whose experiences, information or services complements
the themes of the Forum. Exhibitors represent a diverse
range of sectors, including global organisations.

**THEMES**

The Conference themes
26-28 June 2000, CNIT Paris

ARE WE LIVING IN A "NEW AGE" ECONOMY?

Information and communications technologies are transforming the way people
work and
do business world-wide. And the 1990s have seen a spectacular performance in
the
United States economy, with the longest peacetime "boom" this century.
Unemployment
is at its lowest rate in 30 years, and inflation is still steady. Some
analysts believe that
the US has entered a new-age, with higher productivity growth driven by
globalisation,
competitive markets and the information and communication technology
revolution.
Other factors may also be a driving force, like improvements in human
capital, and
stronger corporate governance and financial systems.

In Japan domestic markets are becoming more open to international
competition, market
pressures drive structural change, consumer interests take higher priority,
and personal
choice and initiative increase. In Europe, the launching of the Euro could
stimulate
widespread efficiency gains, building on the wave of reforms under the
European Single
Market programme. For their part, a large number of developing and
transition
economies, particularly those affected by financial crises, are launching
unprecedented
programmes of policy reform.

Among the questions that OECD Forum 2000 will address are:

Is something "special" happening?
Has the US economy indeed entered a new-age?
Could a much wider number of economies be on the verge a new-age?
If so, what does this mean for governments, business and civil society?
What role can governments play to realise a new-age economy?


GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY - BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS IN
PUBLIC POLICY

Globalisation, rapid technological progress and the spread of democracy are
changing
the relationships among states, markets and civil society. Traditional
concepts of
citizenship, sovereignty, responsibility and the meaning of territory are
increasingly
challenged. Markets are becoming more competitive, global and powerful.
Citizens and
consumers are becoming more informed and assertive. Governments can stay
effective
in this new environment but they must adapt to do so. Economies are
increasingly
letting market forces drive development and growth -- with the state, of
course, an
important player in establishing effective systems of governance. The same
should be
true for the public sector, where the disciplining forces of competition
will further
improve efficiency.

Fighting bribery and corruption, establishing effective regulatory policies
and fostering
integrity in the public service are critical elements of good public
governance. Investors
are now looking more closely at corporate governance. In addition, the way
companies
are run matters to a wide range of stakeholders. In response to this, more
and more
firms are now developing strategies which address public concerns about
corporate
behaviour. And government, business and civil society are now forging
partnerships to
establish institutional and policy frameworks in all these areas.

Issues to be tackled by OECD Forum 2000 include:

Should business, non-governmental organisations and civil society more
generally
be more active partners in public policy-making?
How effective have collaborative efforts been to date in improving public
and
corporate governance?
How should corporations build an atmosphere of better confidence with
government, labour and other partners?
How should governments address claims that they are out of touch with
citizens'
needs and that public trust in government is diminishing?
How can governments become more efficient to be effective actors in the
fast-changing, globalising world economy?

**ARE WE MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?**

Achieving and maintaining a high rate of economic growth is only part of the
challenge
confronting policy makers. Economic development that falls short of
achieving major
environmental and social challenges will not be sustainable over time.
Sustainable
development is a key economic issue. Some types of economic decisions
contribute to
climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable exploitation of natural
resources, as
well as to income inequality and high unemployment. Moving towards
sustainable
development hence requires modifying economic incentives to incorporate
environmental
and social concerns. Some enterprises are already incorporating sustainable
development concerns into their strategic planning. And some see sustainable
development as a challenge of maintaining competitiveness through strategic
investments and the development of new technologies and skills.

Few of the necessary policies for achieving Kyoto emission reduction targets
are in
place today. These will require that production, consumption and investment
decisions
take climate goals into account. Subsidy reform, green taxes, "full cost"
resource pricing
and emission trading, as well as accelerated diffusion of climate-friendly
technology and
implementation of emissions trading are all on the agenda. Developing
countries, in
particular, need to establish effective national strategies for moving
towards
sustainable development. OECD countries can help in strengthening local
capacities in
developing countries. OECD countries must also strengthen the developmental
coherence of their trade, investment and environment policies.

Issues for OECD Forum 2000 include:

Do we risk falling short of achieving major environmental and social
objectives?
What is the appropriate balance between public policy interventions and
market
solutions in responding to them?
How are enterprises incorporating sustainable development into their
strategic
planning processes?
What role should civil society play at the national and international level?
Are governments taking a long-term view of their responsibilities?
How can OECD governments help developing countries, many of which lack
economic resources and local capacities, to move towards comprehensive
sustainable development?

**REAPING THE FULL BENEFITS OF GLOBAL TRADE**

Further liberalisation of world trade can be a powerful tool to promote
development and
enhance world prosperity. Such a prospect matters most of all in the
countries that
today are the least favoured. The broad objectives of trade negotiations
under the
auspices of the WTO are, first, to achieve substantial liberalisation;
second, to further
strengthen the WTO system of rules and disciplines and its accountability to
the public;
third, to keep the agenda of the WTO relevant to rapid changes in the world
economy;
fourth, to advance global sustainable development by ensuring a fair and
more open
multilateral system that works for the benefit and welfare of all its
members. While
governments conduct trade negotiations, and business is closely engaged,
elements of
civil society are a growing presence in trade policy debates.

There is a compelling case that all countries have a coincidence of
interests in trade
negotiations to prepare the global economy for the 21st century. Trade
liberalisation
has already generated large dividends in terms of economic growth and
prosperity in
countries at various stages of development. A complete dismantling of
existing tariffs on
imports world wide would result in an increase in world economic output of
the order of
three percent over the next decade, equivalent to a boost of approximately
US $1 200
billion. Major gains -on some estimates even larger - are also expected from
liberalisation of trade in services. And developing countries would gain the
most in
relative terms. But developing countries, especially the least developed,
are sometimes
not in a position to reap the full benefits or even to participate fully in
negotiations.

Issues include:

How should trade negotiations progress?
How should the needs and interests of developing countries be better taken
into
account?
Are new issues emerging that require the attention of policy-makers?
How should the demands of business, labour and other stakeholders be better
taken into consideration?
How can provisions to ensure full discussion and input of views by the
public and
civil society?

**THE INTERNET, GROWTH SOURCE INTO THE FUTURE?**

Electronic commerce continues its extraordinary increase in economic and
social
importance, and as a policy priority. The number of consumers and businesses
with
access to the Internet and the possibility to engage in electronic commerce
has
increased rapidly. The performance of the information and communication
technology
industries, in terms of productivity growth, has been remarkable. The
impacts of
electronic commerce are now visible throughout our economies and societies.
Co-operation will be required between all players -- governments, business
and civil
society -- to strike the right balance between regulation and
self-regulation in the
digital economy.

Users of electronic commerce must gain confidence in the digital
marketplace.
Questions about consumer and privacy protection and the establishment of
secure
infrastructures and systems for authentication and certification still
present formidable
challenges to the development of a climate of trust in the new globally
networked
society. Efforts to provide information, education and access to
technological tools to
help empower users and consumers, coupled with market-led self-regulatory
safeguards
will all help build trust and confidence.

But electronic commerce can only develop as quickly as the information and
communications infrastructure permits. Access to an enhanced information
infrastructure providing adequate bandwidth at affordable prices requires a
competitive
marketplace. All players - business, governments and consumers - have an
interest in
clear, consistent and predictable taxation "rules" for global electronic
commerce that
are similar in scope, objective and effect to those for traditional business
transactions.
Further liberalisation of international trade rules and reduction or
elimination of tariffs
will also promote a favourable competitive environment for global electronic
commerce.
It is important to maximise the benefits of global electronic commerce,
ensure that all
may participate fully in the information society, and avoid risks of the
emergence of a
"digital divide".

Issues include:

What are the main economic and social impacts of electronic commerce?
How effective are regulation and self-regulation in creating a favourable
environment in which global electronic commerce can develop and create
growth,
jobs, trade and broadly shared benefit?
What can be done to bind and strengthen existing levels of market openness?
How effective are mechanisms for protecting consumer interests, privacy and
personal data?
How effective are national policies and laws for authentication and
certification?
Is work advancing fast enough on establishing an appropriate framework for
taxation?
What needs to be done to promote the needed enhancements to the information
infrastructure and access to it?


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