Demographic headwinds are set to weaken economic growth in OECD countries over the coming decades. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) provides opportunities for productivity gains, potentially alleviating labour shortages and boosting economic growth.

By Christophe André and Matthias Schief, OECD Economics Department

As a small, open economy, Switzerland has been highly exposed to recent global developments including swings in external demand, major changes in international trade policies and geopolitical uncertainty. The economy has weathered these shocks well: Inflation and unemployment are low and public finances are sound. But growth has been below trend since 2024, falling short of the annual average growth rate of 1.8% of the previous decade. Bolstering growth and resilience will hinge on building stronger ties with key trading partners, but also on forging new trade partnerships. This will lay the grounds for diffusing productivity growth beyond export-oriented sectors and firms.

by Priscilla Fialho and Adolfo Rodriguez-Vargas, OECD Economics Department

New OECD analysis combines granular local climate damages with a global spatial model to estimate how heat, floods, shifting crop yields and sea-level rise affect future aggregate economic activity, taking into account key trade, migration and production networks.

By Diogo Baptista, Hélia Costa and Filiz Unsal, OECD Economics Department

Energy and food shocks have impacted consumer spending in recent years. A new dataset of aggregated and anonymised monthly payment card spending for 12 European countries shows how these shocks led to weak growth of “everyday spending” by consumers with shifts across spending categories and important regional differences.

By Juergen Amann (OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities), Sebastian Barnes and David Haugh (OECD Economics Department) and Luis Monteiro and Sidharth Goel (Mastercard Economics Institute)

Population ageing and climate change will strain Hungary’s public finances. The 2026 Economic Survey of Hungary sets out recommendations to rebuild fiscal space and lift growth. The budget and medium-term fiscal plan that the new government is preparing will provide key opportunities to start addressing these challenges.

by Pierre-Alain Pionnier and Michaël Sicsic, OECD Economics Department

The recent, and recurrent, heatwaves across France and Europe are a reminder that climate change is already affecting people’s health, businesses’ productivity and the country’s infrastructure. Strengthening prevention will be essential to limit losses, but adaptation must go hand in hand with faster emissions reductions.

by Nikki Kergozou, OECD Economics Department

L’economia italiana ha dimostrato una notevole resilienza di fronte ai principali shock esterni di questo decennio, ma i redditi sono cresciuti meno che in altri  Paesi dell’OCSE e nuove e significative sfide si profilano all’orizzonte. L’Indagine Economica OCSE sull’Italia 2026 delinea le priorità per affrontarle, rafforzare le finanze pubbliche e aumentare la produttività e i redditi.

Tim Bulman and Emilia Soldani, OECD Economics Department

English version

Italy’s economy has been resilient to this decade’s major external shocks but incomes are lagging behind OECD peers, and significant new challenges loom. The 2026 OECD Economic Survey of Italy outlines priorities to meet these, strengthen the public finances and raise productivity and incomes.

by Tim Bulman and Emilia Soldani, OECD Economics Department

Versione italiana