May 19, 2015

Investment in the OECD: pre- and post-crisis developments

In June 2015, the Netherlands will chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. This year’s edition will address investment topics. In preparation, the Ministry of Economic Affairs asked the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) to make an international comparison between OECD countries.

We make an international comparison between OECD countries distinguishing investment along several dimensions and to account for these developments, e.g. pre- and post-crisis developments, developments by means of a decomposition by private and public investments and housing. In addition we investigate developments in investments in R&D and human capital. Taking these historical developments as a starting point, this communication report looks ahead to future investment developments. Can investments recover and return to pre-crisis levels? Which economic factors and risks might affect the speed of adjustment?