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OECD - The Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation

By , About.com Guide

Definition: OECD is the acronym for the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation.

The OECD is a 30-country organization of mostly Western, industrialized nations. It was formed in 1961 to help member countries achieve sustainable economic growth and employment and raise their standard of living while contributing to the development of the world economy.

For the public at large, the OECD figures as one of the most frequently cited sources of economic data and information, as the organization maintains vast databases and conducts some of the world's most authoritative analyses and studies on the world economy.

The OECD's precursor was the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), formed in 1947 to administer American and Canadian aid under the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe after World War II.

OECD Member Nations

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
the Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States.

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