OECD publishes economic survey

13 March 2007

BRUSSELS- The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published its economic survey on Belgium today. In it the organisation argues that tuition fees in tertiary education should be increased. This is needed to ensure the quality of education and better motivate students.

Many students in Belgium still regard higher education as a free good, the OECD writes.

The OECD report concentrated on higher education, public financing, the labour market, and the functioning of the financial sector. The OECD came to the conclusion that the structural reforms to the labour market are showing positive results, but only modest ones. The organisation urges that the efforts be continued and further measures to discourage early retirement be introduced.

The ageing of the population demands that public financing will have to be kept in check. “Securing the sustainability of public finances in the long term will require additional reform. Consolidation through spending needs to take place at all levels of government,” the OECD writes.

Subject: Belgian news