A combination of slower growth in spending on healthcare and expanding economies has led to a stabilisation of health spending as a proportion of GDP in many OECD countries, according to OECD Health Data 2008.
JupiterResearch has found that the number of worldwide online users will increase 44 percent between 2007 and 2012, reaching 1.8 billion users. By 2012, one quarter of the worldwide population will access the Internet on a regular basis, as indicated in a new report Worldwide Online Population Forecast, 2007 to 2012, published by JupiterResearch.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows from OECD countries in 2007 leapt to a record USD 1.82 trillion from USD 1.2 trillion in 2006 but are projected to fall sharply in 2008, according to estimates from the OECD. If a slowdown in merger and acquisitions observed in the first half of 2008 continues, FDI outflows could fall to USD 1.14 trillion.
Emerging markets have significantly improved their levels of real estate transparency according to the latest Global Real Estate Transparency Index from Jones Lang LaSalle. The survey reveals that in 2008, eight countries moved up a full transparency tier since the last index in 2006. Dubai, Romania, Ukraine and Russia showed the biggest improvements in transparency over the last two years.
Brazil, Russia, India and China—collectively known as BRIC—represent the next great growth curve for both the mobile and interactive marketing industries. Home to over 40% of the world’s population, the BRIC countries form the core of an emergent global middle class that will number over 1 billion people by 2015.
Telenor is one of the sponsors of a comprehensive international report that shows that information and communications technology (ICT) could contribute to reduce global emissions of CO2 by as much as 15 per cent by 2020.
The OECD is to work with developed and developing countries and international organisations to improve policies for the Internet economy and increase international co-operation on issues such as cybercrime and security.
The United States and China will remain the prime destinations for foreign direct investment over the next five years, while global corporations continue to expand their investments in emerging economies in a quest for access to new customers and favorable operating conditions, according to a new study released by KPMG International.
A new database and ranking tool unveiled by the World Bank shows that in 2007 most developing countries continued to improve trade policies supporting greater integration.
