OECD

We visited the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development while we were in Paris. We were well received by our host, Andrew Gentry, even though we were a bit late, and immediately given a presentation about what the OECD is and what it does by an American who was working for the US delegation to the OECD. This American, William Wade, was a BYU graduate who had gone to work for the state department and had worked in several countries around the world, gave his perspective on what it was like to work for the state department in several foreign countries. After a brief question and answer session with him, we were given a quick presentation by a French lady that had already lived in America and spoke English remarkably well.

After our introduction to the OECD and the presentations, Andrew gave us a tour of the adjacent building, a former palace. In fact, the palace near the OECD is the location where the first hot air balloon took off. The building was given to the OECD as its base of operation, and since it has been remodeled and expanded into the current OECD facilities. Every day hundreds of delegates meet in conferences to discuss the latest economic findings and results of detailed economic research.

I learned that the OECD is a think tank, which I did not know before. The main purpose of the OECD is to cooperate in the discovery and dissemination of economic research information among member nations. For those who are not members of the OECD, access to information is severely limited. Mr. Gentry told us something that I found to be relevant but surprising – in order to become a member of the OECD, each member nation must first become a part of the WTO. That means that China and Russia are still kept out, and cannot contribute to the global economic research team at OECD. The impression that I got is that OECD is a rich nation’s club for research, which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing.

One of the pillars of economic development in the western world is democracy, which in order to operate needs a free flow of information. The members of the OECD benefit from the free flow of information that comes with membership, but those who are not members do not benefit. Obviously, those nations that want access to the OECD club will need to adopt democratic institutions in order to gain access to the wealth of information that OECD produces. This could improve the lives of their citizens and the world in general.

All in all, I enjoyed the OECD tour and was impressed with the quality of the staff that is working there. I also have begun to consider Foreign Service for the state department. Working abroad while representing the United States of America is definitely something I see as worthwhile and beneficial after hearing William’s story. I liked the OECD.